Salutem officially opened at Medical Sciences Precinct
University of Tasmania staff and students have joined the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Peter Rathjen, to officially launch Salutem, the new café in the Medical Science Precinct in the Hobart CBD.
The word "salutem" is the Latin equivalent of the English toast "to your health." The café is serving hot and cold drinks and food, and is open to staff, students and members of the community.
Prof Rathjen thanked the crowd for turning up to celebrate the official opening and Compass for its operation of the University’s cafes.
"The creation of these sorts of spaces across the University is very important - I thank Commercial Services and Development for their hard work towards this.
"We recognise that the age of information technology is upon us. As the competition for students and outstanding researchers increases, one of the tasks we are charged with is making our campuses as pleasant as they can possibly be, so that our staff and students choose to spend their time with us and with each other.
"From those connections and interactions comes the intellectual environment that creates new ideas and opportunities, and in the end feeds back to us becoming a finer university.
"This café is, in effect, the final touch to the Medical Sciences Precinct. It's not just about teaching or research, it’s also about the experience that comes with being part of the University of Tasmania," Prof Rathjen said.
"We are also keen to integrate the University more with the community and we realise the importance of social spaces to achieving that goal."
Prof Rathjen said Salutem has been carefully designed to complement the broader University precinct underway in the Hobart CBD, which will encompass the forthcoming Academy of Creative Industries and Performing Arts, the Tasmanian College of the Arts in Hunter Street, the Domain facilities and the new student housing in Melville Street.
Salutum is open to staff, students and the community, Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 2.30pm.