South Australian students petition against Bjorn Lomborg

About 6000 staff and students from Adelaide's Flinders University have signed a petition against a proposed think tank along the lines of controversial climate change skeptic Bjorn Lomborg's organisation.

Student Association president James Vigus says more than 150 people delivered the petition to Flinders University officials during a protest on Thursday.

The University of Western Australia earlier this year decided not to host a $4 million taxpayer-funded research centre headed by Mr Lomborg, who has been widely criticised for his climate change views.

Flinders University has since indicated it may be interested in hosting the centre, sparking opposition from academics and students.

Flinders University said in a statement it supported the right of students and staff to voice their views on discussions about a possible research collaboration with the Copenhagen Consensus Centre.

The university hasn't formed a position on the matter, and talks among staff and students are continuing, it says.

"Flinders awaits with interest the results of these deliberations, and whether or not a proposal might be put forward by academics," it said.