Pat Bishop (right), The Albufera's great benefactor and friend signing the accord on
behalf of her family for the Dennis Bishop Memorial Laboratory with the Balearic Environment
Minister Margalida Rossello (middle) and Catalina Massuti (left), Head of the Balearic
Environment Department's Natural Areas Service.
The most important event in 2000, and one of the
most significant so far in the history of the Parc was the establishment of the
Dennis Bishop Laboratory. The new Laboratorio Dennis Bishop was officially
opened on Friday, 3rd November 2000 by the Balearic Consellera de
Medi Ambient (Environment Minister), Margalida Rosselló. The Laboratorio Dennis
Bishop, situated in the Casa de les Universitats del Parc (Park Universities
House), came to fruition thanks to the patronage of the widow of Dennis Bishop,
Pat, and his daughters Claire and Sally. The donation, by family request and via
an agreement, is being administered by the Associació Balear d’Amics dels
Parcs (Balearic Association of Friends of the Parks).In the first phase of development, an investment of
over 5 million pesetas has been made to equip the laboratory with furniture,
computers, four high tech microscopes, video teaching aids, digital photography
equipment, GPS equipment and much more. The laboratory is already proving an
excellent facility and considerable further investment planned for 2001 will
result in a field laboratory of impressive quality.Pat and Dennis Bishop
got to know the Albufera many years ago and since the establishment of the Park
in 1988 have collaborated closely in its administration, financing hides, a
research grant, scientific and computer equipment and much more, including
giving direct and unwavering support to our project from its start in 1989.
Dennis is sorely missed, but we are proud and thrilled that his memory will not
fade and is rightly commemorated in the Laboratorio Dennis Bishop.
