Time capsule buried at Lancaster University’s new Health Innovation Campus will provide benchmark to measure project’s success

The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof Mark E. Smith, carried out the dedication this week at the construction site to the north of the institution’s main Bailrigg Campus.

In the coming weeks, the time capsule will be installed beneath a commemorative flagstone on the covered walkway adjacent to the campus’ main entrance – with instructions for it to be opened in 50 years’ time.

Prof Smith said: “I am delighted to have been asked to dedicate this time capsule at the new Health Innovation Campus.

“The Health Innovation Campus is an exciting and ambitious project for the university and will provide a facility which will allow academics to work with healthcare professionals, businesses, local authorities and policy-makers on a systems approach to improving health, in line with the aims of the UK’s Industrial Strategy and the NHS long-term plan.

“The contents of the time capsule aim to provide a snapshot of the current position of healthcare in the UK – as well as the university’s research and teaching in the health space.

“Hopefully, it will provide an interesting yardstick against which to measure the campus’s progress when the time capsule is opened in 50 years’ time.”

The contents of the time capsule include a modern-day stethoscope and blood pressure cuff, a fact sheet with statistics around some of the region’s current health challenges – and a data drive featuring videos, photographs, articles and press cuttings from throughout the construction of the campus.

Dr Sherry Kothari, director of the Health Innovation Campus, said: “It is our ambition that the creation of the Health Innovation Campus will have a major impact on health and wellbeing in our region and we wanted to commemorate what we hope will be a historic milestone for our communities.

“The Vice-Chancellor has been a huge supporter of the Health Innovation Campus since its inception and is ultimately responsible for its creation so we felt it fitting that he be the one to perform this dedication.

“Installing a time capsule beneath our new building will allow the next generation to look back at the current position of health products and services and to measure our success against what we hoped to achieve.”

The inscription on the commemorative flagstone under which the time capsule will sit will read:

“Health Innovation Campus time capsule

To commemorate the construction of Lancaster University’s new Health Innovation Campus

Dedicated by Vice-Chancellor, Prof Mark E. Smith CBE, on 12 August 2019

To be opened August 2069”

The new Health Innovation Campus at Lancaster University will make a major contribution towards tackling some of the significant health challenges we face today.

The £41m campus will provide a focal point to support researchers, healthcare providers, businesses, local authorities and policy makers to address serious health and wellbeing challenges.

Development of the new campus has been supported by the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership Growth Deal, as well as the European Regional Development Fund.