INNOVATION January-February 2013

fea t ure s

Zorig Davaanyam, PhD candidate from Mongolia with faculty supervisor Dr. Bernhard Klein, P.Eng., of the Norman B. Keevil Institute of Mining Engineering studying energy-efficient mineral processing technology using high pressure grinding rolls.

Capacity Building in the Developing World The Continuing Evolution of Sustainable Mining Dr. Malcolm Scoble, P.Eng.

Martin Dee

Mining Education and Research for Sustainable Development In the last 15 years, the Norman B. Keevil Institute (NBK) of Mining Engineering at the University of British Columbia (UBC) has been developing its educational experience to produce a new kind of mining engineering graduate: technically strong in mining and mineral process engineering, whilst also aligned with the principles of sustainable development, serving an emerging paradigm of sustainable mining. Our teaching and research has evolved significantly to encompass environmental, health, socio- economic, regulatory and governance issues relating to mining and its communities. In the context of both mining education and research, there is currently an exciting opportunity to extend our collaborations to focus particularly on capacity building and poverty alleviation in the developing world. This is aligned with UBC’s vision statement to create a “learning environment that fosters global citizenship, advances a civil and sustainable society, and supports outstanding research.”

BC is a Prominent National and Global Mining Player According to the Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia (AME BC), there were more than 350 mineral exploration and 20 major mine projects active in 2011 throughout the province, and exploration expenditures over the following five years were anticipated to potentially increase beyond the 2007 peak of $416 million. This level of investment growth would also be expected to ultimately lead to new discoveries, mine developments, jobs and government revenues as an “open for business” culture is nurtured and embraced. As such, AME BC continued to actively engage with First Nations and local, provincial and federal politicians on key issues such as land use and promoting a two-zone land access model that would increase investment and project development certainty. BC exploration and mining companies are also very active globally, whilst at the same time, international investment interest in BC’s mineral resources and energy development projects continues to increase significantly. Those BC companies who are actively exploring and developing mining projects in the developing world, often around communities with existing poverty and health issues, have a significant opportunity to

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