Up & Coming Geoscientists - a sample of our AIG Honours Bursary Recipients

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Industry – Academic Research Projects then spends the next 6 months writing it up. This is fine until you go around the next corner, or drill the next hole and the model doesn’t fit and the project has now finished (or the academic is unwilling to change their mind!). This point also highlights the value of long-standing working relationships; companies are not so fond of fair-weather friends who arrive when times are good and are not to be seen when the research money starts to dry up (or the individual academics personal interest has been quenched). In some cases this may be unavoidable as academics can only take on limited projects, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly The Good collaborative project represents the majority, by far; most projects achieve their target and build geological knowledge. Outcomes from short- to mid-term (Hons, PhD and Post-Doctoral) projects can provide geological constraints for specific targets, prospects and systems and can assist companies to make business decisions based on sound geological understanding. Good projects lead directly to more projects, which can build knowledge quickly. This is especially true if they are coordinated by a ‘research champion’ within the company; not necessarily a senior figure, but someone to get a job or go onto further study (PhD). As well as research outcomes, the Honours process also allows companies’ access to these potentially high-calibre future employees. The Bad isn’t that bad. Some projects do not achieve what was originally intended. Students can go off the rails and research can go off at a tangent. Often this comes down to how much mentoring the student had from supervisors and whether key deliverables have been requested. This kind of project should have a learning outcome for both industry and but it does support a ‘baby-steps’ approach. I with a keen drive to progress geological academic supervisors. In most cases though, like to think of projects as Lego bricks; maybe understanding. The students involved in the cost of the project was minimal and the individually each study is not breathtaking, but these projects are normally self-starters and data generated will be of use to aid geological once several are joined together you can start interested in geology. Many gain enough understanding. to build something substantial. industry experience through their project Terra Search Pty. Ltd. Mineral Exploration and Data Management Specialists www.terrasearch.com.au Current Major Collaborative Projects in 2014 In addition to our standard array of exploration services, Terra Search has a strong history of collaboration with Government agencies to provide pre-competitive exploration data sets. PNG MINERAL RESOURCES AUTHORITY (MRA) PROJECT As part of the World Bank sponsored 2nd Mining Sector Institutional Strengthening Technical Assistance Project (MSISTAP) in PNG, Terra Search has commenced a 12 month contract designed to add sigificant further historical Geological and Geochemical Data to the over 450,000 data points already captured by Terra Search during the 1st MSISTAP in 2002-2005. With over 15 years of experience providing database services to government and industry, Terra Search is well placed to deliver the best possible outcome for the MRA. All data compiled and validated during this project will be made available globally to exploration companies through the MRA. INTRUSION-RELATED MINERALIZATION SYSTEMS IN NE QLD Terra Search and Klondike Exploration Services are undertaking a comprehensive study of the geology and metallogeny of gold-bearing magmatic hydrothermal systems incorporating: • A new metallogenic database of the Charters Towers Region, GIS data package and map • Metallogenic model documenting genetic types & spatial controls in Charters Towers region • Revision and update of the geology of the Charters Towers District • Templates of geophysical & geochemical signatures of deposit styles This study is a part of a North QLD research initiative in collaboration with local Industry, EGRU (James Cook University) and the Geological Survey of QLD, funded through the Queensland Government Future Resources Program. Terra Search Pty. Ltd. Specialists in Mineral Exploration, Geology, and Computing for over 25 years TOWNSVILLE Simon Beams, Travers Davies T: (07) 4728 6851 E: admin@terrasearch.com.au PERTH Dave Jenkins T: (08) 9472 8546 E: tswa@iinet.net.au BATHURST Richard Lesh T: (02) 6337 3133 E: richard.lesh@bigpond.com 34 AIG NEWS Issue 123 · February 2016
© ingimage.com © ingimage.com Industry – Academic Research Projects THE GOOD COLLABORATIONS THE BAD COLLABORATIONS Case Study Examples • Student does a great project - gets directly offered a job • Student does a great project - industry experience helps them get a job with another company • Student does a great project - continues research with PhD • Company get a detailed Honours project on a previously undescribed style of mineralisation. • Geological data allows company to avoid paying many millions to stay in joint venture project. • Another company spends many hundreds of thousands on the project and concludes finding based on original (Honours) project was correct. • Data from project allows company to explore more effectively for buried mineralisation; discovery is made. • Newly described style of mineralisation allows more efficient exploration and leads to buy-in from other companies also interested in research. • Additional exploration benefits state economy. Recommendations • Build interrelated projects up like Lego blocks. Case Study Examples • Student goes off the rails and Honours Project doesn’t get submitted • Data still relevant and supervisor writes up technical report and project still adds value • Research goes off on a tangent and final project doesn’t address primary aim • May be due to lack of supervision from both academic and industry supervisors • Academic arrives on site in Hawaiian shirt and thongs with a hastily put-together presentation (which includes basic spelling errors). • Academics reputation doesn’t carry across to industry. Recommendations • Have at least one industry ‘research champion’ who has responsibility for project. • Mentor students and emphasise the need for appropriate behaviour while on-site. • Maintain a professional approach: relaxed working relationships can be enjoyable and productive, but a careless attitude does not promote confidence in the project. AIG NEWS Issue 123 · February 2016 35
Page 1 and 2: AIG News • No 123 • February 20
Page 3 and 4: Inside this AIG news... 4 From Your
Page 5 and 6: Queensland Minister for Natural Res
Page 7 and 8: 3 Institute News Snippets NORTHERN
Page 9 and 10: Making a Difference in Geoscience E
Page 11 and 12: “ SMEDG meetings are held on the
Page 13 and 14: EDU Education Report Kaylene Camuti
Page 15 and 16: Geoscientist Employment in Australi
Page 17 and 18: Latest Employment Survey Unemployed
Page 19 and 20: Latest Employment Survey “There a
Page 21 and 22: copper deposit in which small incre
Page 23 and 24: Keep up to date with AIG and other
Page 25 and 26: Detailed seismic mapping of the Eps
Page 27 and 28: The host rock and ladder dyke have
Page 29 and 30: NORTHERN TERRITORY GEOLOGICAL SURVE
Page 31 and 32: The Peoples Hydrogeological Wonder
Page 33: © ingimage.com © ingimage.com MRG
Page 37 and 38: Some Final Thoughts The topic of in
Page 39 and 40: “ Arguably the biggest change to
Page 41 and 42: ENJOY YOUR NEW MEMBER BENEFITS PROG
Page 43 and 44: “ Could geologists be this biased
Page 45 and 46: “ The bell curve indicates that 9
Page 47 and 48: The Fold Experiment - Geologists Bi
Page 49 and 50: Events calendar Keep up to date wit

Up & Coming Geoscientists - a sample of our AIG Honours Bursary Recipients

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