Shetland College is looking for a project manager to advance plans for an international study centre in the islands.

The initial three-year appointment, funded by Shetland Islands Council, will aim to attract academic and commercial customers for applied research and learning, concentrating on Shetland's geology, archaeology, wildlife, renewable energy sites and local expertise in environmental monitoring and preventing oil pollution.

Much of the work will be done in Britain's most northerly inhabited island, Unst (population 550), identified by preliminary studies as particularly suitable for university field courses, wildlife tourism and wind and tidal power operators.

The Open University has a long association with Unst in geological research and, more recently, the Orkney Agronomy Institute identified many Unst plants with commercial potential.  The island's two National Nature Reserves, with unique arctic alpine flowers and spectacular seabird cliffs, could feature in future educational tourism projects.

At first the project will use existing buildings but if there is enough business an application for European funding may be made for a purpose-built centre in the future.