Up & Coming Geoscientists - a sample of our AIG Honours Bursary Recipients
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Some Final Thoughts<br />
The topic <strong>of</strong> industry-academic research<br />
projects is a large one and there are some<br />
fundamental issues with the way the<br />
academic system is funded (e.g. the reliance<br />
on citations as a measure <strong>of</strong> an academics’<br />
worth). However, it would seem from recent<br />
activities by the current government there may<br />
be some changes on the horizon<br />
(and, as much as I welcome those changes, I<br />
won’t be holding my breath). I have some final<br />
personal tips on maximising the chances <strong>of</strong><br />
a collaborative industry-academic research<br />
project succeeding;<br />
• Maintain open and transparent<br />
communication; building trust and<br />
effective communication <strong>of</strong> results<br />
is vital.<br />
• For the academics: try to keep technical<br />
jargon to a minimum (nobody likes<br />
Finally: one <strong>of</strong> the most positive and<br />
undervalued outcomes <strong>of</strong> any research project<br />
is the training and experience that it gives<br />
the student(s). The bigger picture <strong>of</strong> applied<br />
research is that even if this project didn’t kick<br />
all the goals it aimed for, the next one might<br />
surprise us. Adding geological understanding<br />
and constraints to exploration campaigns<br />
and learning more about the ore body you<br />
are mining is fundamental to progressing the<br />
Australian minerals industry and tackling the<br />
UNCOVER challenge <strong>of</strong> finding the ore bodies<br />
<strong>of</strong> tomorrow.<br />
© ingimage.com<br />
Note about the Author<br />
Richard Lilly completed his PhD at Cardiff<br />
University in the UK on ophiolite geochemistry<br />
in collaboration with the British Geological<br />
Survey and a short structurally-focussed<br />
post-doc working with Chevron in Morocco. He<br />
then worked for 8 years for Mount Isa Mines<br />
based in Mount Isa, Queensland and was Senior<br />
Geologist for Cloncurry Projects, specialising<br />
in exploration geochemistry for IOCG and<br />
related targets in covered terrain. Richard has a<br />
passion for using applied research to improve<br />
<strong>our</strong> understanding <strong>of</strong> mineral systems to<br />
benefit exploration and is currently the Mount<br />
Isa Mines funded Embedded Research Fellow<br />
at the University <strong>of</strong> Adelaide conducting and<br />
coordinating a wide range <strong>of</strong> applied research<br />
projects.<br />
Industry – Academic Research Projects<br />
reading an overly wordy technical report<br />
when a couple <strong>of</strong> PowerPoint slides<br />
could suffice).<br />
• Establish key deliverables and to deliver<br />
them on time: if plans and timelines<br />
change, be open about it.<br />
• There are no substitutes for fieldwork<br />
and relationship building.<br />
• Maintain project flexibility where<br />
possible.<br />
Glenn Coianiz<br />
M<strong>AIG</strong> RPGeo<br />
M: 0412 409 760<br />
glenn@exploris.com.au<br />
www.exploris.com.au<br />
Need maps produced but don’t have time, skills<br />
or staff. ExplorIS can do that for you.<br />
1 h<strong>our</strong> minimum charge out.<br />
<strong>AIG</strong> NEWS Issue 123 · February 2016 37
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