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this page PDAC Workshop Introduces Geoscience Students to the Mineral Exploration Industry By Saley E. Lawton, PDAC Director, Communications & MembershipOn May 23, 2007, geoscience students from across the country gathered in Sudbury, Ontario to get a taste of what it would be like to work in Canada's mineral exploration industry. The students, most of whom are in third or fourth years of their university geology programs, were selected by their post-secondary institutions to attend the first ever Student-Industry Mineral Exploration Workshop (S-IMEW). The workshop, sponsored by the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC), was designed to introduce these senior students to the various facets of mineral exploration and to gain firsthand experience of the sector from people working in the field. This inaugural workshop will become an annual event and was organized by the PDAC's student affairs committee. According to co-chair Lynda Bloom, "The PDAC is concerned about the declining numbers of young people choosing careers in exploration and mining and has identified human resources as a priority area going forward. This workshop was a tangible way of demonstrating to students what mineral exploration is about and the career opportunities it offers." Co-chair, Scott Jobin-Bevans agreed, "Students don't generally have the opportunity to network with industry and get exposed to the specifics of what a career in exploration has to offer. This workshop enabled them to talk to exploration people and for us to show them what exploration is about. They were very enthusiastic and appreciated being given the chance to participate. Hopefully, the variety of subjects covered in this workshop provided the students with enough information to entice them to seriously consider a career in the mineral exploration industry." A number of organizations and groups helped to make the workshop a success. The PDAC paid the students' travel and accommodation costs and Barrick Gold Corporation contributed $10,000 to the event. Assisting with workshop organization were Laurentian University, the Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines/Ontario Geological Survey and MIRARCO, a not-for-profit corporation of Laurentian University. The intensive program introduced students to the mining cycle, focusing on grassroots exploration and economic geology. There were lectures, presentations and hands-on classes on mineral deposits, geological mapping, exploration techniques, geophysics, geochemistry, diamond drilling, corporate social responsibility, and environment and wilderness safety. In addition, lecturers discussed issues such as geoscience research around the world, regulatory concerns, geologists as financial analysts and raising venture capital for international projects. Among the speakers was APGO president Maureen Jensen who talked about the association and its work on behalf of the geoscience community. Ms. Jensen said that this kind of workshop could make the difference between a student entering the exploration industry or going into another earth science career. "This kind of workshop is a wonderful introduction to a stimulating career. I was very pleased to be able to participate in it and to meet the students, who were full of enthusiasm." Much of the program involved day trips to exploration projects and operating mines. Students observed activities above and below ground during tours of three mines: Noranda Camp, Timmins Camp, and an open pit mine. They also visited core logging facilities and a slag pour. The workshop was not solely focused on serious topics; also important were networking and social activities. The program began with an industry icebreaker and wrapped up with a sit-down dinner; both dinners were held in the Inco Cavern at Science North. Most dinners provided networking opportunities and dinner speakers addressed career topics such as positions in mining and exploration, international geological consulting and careers in geophysics. The Deputy Mayor of Sudbury, André Rivest, addressed students at the final dinner where Michael Connor, president of Nuclear Resources International Inc., was the featured dinner speaker. Student Marc Rinne from Lakehead University left the workshop with overwhelmingly positive impressions. He praised the networking opportunities - not only with industry but also with other students (the leaders of tomorrow) - and the exposure to business-related aspects of exploration and mining geology. "The learning experience far exceeded my expectations," he wrote in an electronic mail after the event. "The workshop explored well beyond what I learn in academic settings." |
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