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Mining a new generation of economic geologists
By Paul Mayne
Thursday, June 5, 2008
With a worldwide shortage of economic geologists and growing demand for natural resources, the Earth Sciences department is embarking on a multi-million dollar initiative to become the premier national institution for graduating entrepreneurial geologist-explorers.
Photo courtesy of Earth Sciences - A $41.7-million initiative would remake the Earth Sciences department as the go-to institution in Canada for the next generation of economic geologists. Part of the plan calls for expanding field school opportunities, illustrated here. captiontexthere
The ambitious $41.7-million initiative, to which the university has committed $23.1 million, will create a demand for new academic and research positions, new laboratory space and further building upgrades, and drive new courses and field school expansions over the next six years.
The remaining $18.6 million will be raised through donations from industry and partners.
Dean of Science David Wardlaw says he is thrilled to be part of the largest fundraising endeavour and departmental transformation in his academic career.
“The goal is to enhance significantly economic geology education and research at Western, and to graduate a new generation of economic geologists,” he says.
“Western should become the destination of choice in Canada for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing studies in this area, for those seeking academic and research appointments in economic geology, and for industry in terms of recruitment of new employees, collaborative research, for consultations on mineral deposit geology and petroleum geology, and for analytical services.”
Given the department’s existing strengths, priorities include ensuring it has the people, space, courses, and partnerships with industry, other institutions and government to graduate a new generation of economic geologists.
Phase one of the initiative to enhance mineral deposit studies and professional development will include the appointment of an Industrial Visiting Professor in Economic Geology/Mineral Deposit Geology this fall and a Chair in Economic Geology by July 2009. Professor Emeritus Bob Hodder will manage the project.
“Faculty, funding, and facilities are now aligned in a plan and a will for Western’s Department of Earth Sciences to school future generations of geoscientists in qualitative and quantitative knowledge of the Earth, how to research, learn and solve problems that bridge science, the economy, and indeed the sustainability of our species,” says Hodder. “How could I not be enthusiastic and want to be involved?”
Hodder adds the department wants to welcome new students, provide four years on a steep personalized learning curve of basic knowledge and skill development - complete with internship and summer employment possibilities - and see them on to full-time employment as interested alumni with whom we keep in touch.
“It does not hurt that there is a great shortage of geoscientists now and in the foreseeable future, and that profitable employment awaits the graduate,” he says.
“The word is out, and needs to be continually repeated, that ‘we are there for you’. This is what makes Western a ‘go-to’ for undergraduates in Earth Sciences.”
While other universities have somewhat similar projects in mind, Hodder adds there is an advantage in collaboration, here and abroad. Interlocking field workshops with other universities are currently underway.
“There is something for everyone in this, and there is no torch burning in isolation,” says Hodder. Most of the financial support will come from the university itself, with more than half the funds already accounted for. Provost and Vice-President (Academic) Fred Longstaffe calls it a wise investment.
“This initiative - when it reaches its full goal - will spark, dare I say, has already sparked, a renaissance in this area and other areas of resource geology that will make Western a national leader,” says Longstaffe.
The university has committed to renovations of the Biology & Geology building - which are currently ongoing - to provide space.
“The opportunities that will be created for our students are simply phenomenal. Through the initiative we will be able to add the additional people needed to provide an exceptional command of all aspects of mineral deposits education – with students and their classroom, field-based and professional education top-of-mind and as a principal focus,” adds Longstaffe.
A number of pieces are needed to complete the makeover, but a partnership with industry is a key to the program’s success.
“The support of industry is crucial and is where we are concentrating our initial efforts in promotion of, and fundraising for, the initiative,” says Wardlaw.
As the initiative develops over the next few years, he anticipates being in a position to form shared ventures – such as field schools, selected grad courses, and a research network – with other universities and having programs in economic geology in Ontario and possibly in other provinces.
“Industry is highly motivated because it is facing an imminent workforce crisis as an aging workforce retires and the recent and current number of geology grads in Canada is far from sufficient to provide needed replacements,” adds Wardlaw.
“What positions Western so well in all of this is a large cohort of highly motivated and committed economic geology grads who have been very successful in industry and see the roots of their success in the student experience and education in economic geology at Western.”
One such graduate is Keith Barron, who regards his time spent at Western to be his “geological finishing school.” Barron got the ball rolling on this initiative with a $1.2-million contribution.
He believes the university is on the cusp of an Earth Sciences resurgence in educating, fostering and mentoring the next generation of explorationists and developers.
“We are attempting to rescue a long tradition of economic geology at Western that extends back to the foundation of the university,” says Barron.
“I am hoping that Western can rebuild itself to be the go-to place for economic geology, as it was in the 80s. It was a great incubator and a great life experience for which I am thankful,” says Barron.
The dynamics and creativity of the 80s and 90s were the key in launching careers of many Western alumni now working in the hot mining and exploration industry. Success, however, will require full support of the faculty and university administration, he says.
Only when industry sees a critical mass of support behind this initiative can Western go out and secure the funding and make the contacts, he says.
“I would like to see many close partnerships with industry,” Barron says. “I myself have a number of projects in different companies with which I am involved which could potentially be undergraduate or graduate thesis projects.”
Longstaffe is pleased with the encouragement of Barron and his colleagues in industry for the initiative.
“It is really exciting to see highly successful and creative alumni offering such an opportunity to the Department of Earth Sciences and its students, staff and faculty,” says Longstaffe. “The department has a long and proud tradition in the area of mineral deposits geology.”
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