. . . I mean how can they complain? A Victoria University old...

. . . I mean how can they complain?

A Victoria University old boy who made a fortune in uranium mining is giving $1 million to its Antarctic Research Centre for research into global warming.

The gift will be made by Alan Eggers, a member of the university's 1975 Antarctic expedition.

A mining geologist for more than 30 years, Mr Eggers was managing director of Australian-based uranium mining company Summit Resources till his resignation a week ago.

Earlier this year, he sold his Summit shares to Paladin Resources in a deal worth more than $85 million.

Now based in Perth, Mr Eggers said he was delighted to be able to give something back to the university for his time on the ice. "They supported me when I was young and hopeful."

He said there was increasing concern about the reaction of the Antarctic to climate change, and that more funding was needed to understand the impacts of carbon emissions on climate change. He wanted to encourage student participation in Antarctic research.

The centre's director, Peter Barrett, said Mr Eggers' gift would advance the centre's research. "This remarkable donation comes at a time when the need to know more about the region's climate history is more important than ever before.

"The centre is recognised as a world leader in this field of research, and both the centre and its researchers are positioned to make a major contribution to our knowledge on climate change.