Memorial University is calling it one of the most significant gifts they have ever received.

At a ceremony yesterday afternoon the Johnson Family Foundation officially gifted the Johnson Geo Centre to the university. The centre and all associated lands have an estimated value of more than $20-million.

Rob Greenwood is the executive director of public engagement at the university. He says they see an opportunity for the centre to become a provincial science centre, and along with other facilities help to establish a science centre network.

He says a longstanding relationship with the Johnson family helped make the transition an easy one, pointing out that MUN has played a key role in the centre ever since it was being developed. Given the long relationship, he calls MUN taking over the facility a “natural transition”.

Meanwhile, the wife of the late Paul Johnson, the philanthropist behind the establishment of the centre, says he would be thrilled to see it passed on to the university.

Sally Johnson says by giving the Geo Centre to the University they are fulfilling one of her husband’s wishes.

She says he always wanted to give the centre to MUN. With all of the other aspects he added on to it over the years, such as the oil and gas exhibit, there’s so much educational value that it fits in well with MUN.