2007 Student-Industry-CRC Symposium

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The third annual Student-Industry-CRC Symposium was held from Friday 16 November to Monday 19 November 2007 in Queenscliff, Victoria. Monday afternoon and Tuesday tours were conducted in the greater Geelong area. The two dozen students in attendance represented 4 CRCs (Landscape Environments and Mineral Exploration, CRC for Coal in Sustainable Development, CRC for Mining, and CSRP) and 11 universities (Central Queensland University, Curtin University of Technology, Macquarie University, University of Melbourne, Murdoch University, University of Adelaide, University of NSW, University of Queensland, University of Sydney). Cash support came from Alcoa World Alumina, Hatch Australia, Newmont and Rio Tinto. Conference activities were held in the Queenscliff Inn as well as the Vue Grand Queenscliff. Student accommodation was provided at the Queenscliff Inn.

Quick Links

Program of Events
Industry Tours
Social Events
Student Participants
Awards Winners
One Student Participants' Reflections
Additional Photographs

Program of Events

> View the Program Booklet

As was the case in the first two Student Symposia, each participant presented their postgraduate research to the group using PowerPoint. Several workshops were also conducted as well as a variety of industry tours, sundowners and social events. Stevan green, CSRP CEO gave the keynote address entitled “A Perspective on Sustainability” on Saturday morning 17 November.

The presentation challenged participants to consider what is and what is not sustainable within the minerals and energy sector in the coming decades and how Australian researchers may attempt to tackle these problems.

Stevan Green

Stevan Green presents the keynote address

Vue Grand

Vue Grand

Two workshops were held on Sunday 18 November at the Vue Grand:

“Regional Synergies - Waste Streams into Profits” was presented by Dr Glen Corder, Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining and CSRP. His talk outlined several synergies projects current underway or proposed and challenged students to answer the question, ‘is there a case for ‘smart’ recycling in the minerals industry’?

Another interactive session entitled “Get Your Message Across” was facilitated by Dr Janine Lay, Sustainable Minerals Institute, University of Queensland. Dr Lay led students through a series of active listening exercises that offered firsthand experiences with making sure the message they were sending was the same message that listeners were receiving. Participants also carried out several tasks that offered insights to the nature and value of simple networking amongst colleagues.


Glen Corder presents "Waste Streams into Profits"	Janine Lay presents "Get Your Message Across"

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Industry Tours

This year’s tours were meant to offer a view of the broader spectrum on energy and mineral processing industries in the metro-Geelong area. Students departed Queenscliff at mid day Monday 19 November for the following tours:

Blue Circle Southern Cement Plant, Geelong (Monday 19 November)
Alcoa Anglesea Open Cut Coal Mine (Tuesday 20 November)
Alcoa Anglesea Power Station (Tuesday 20 November)
Alcoa Port Henry Aluminium Smelter (Tuesday 20 November)
CSRP Clayton Minerals (CSRP students only - Tuesday 20 November)
Australian Synchrotron (CSRP students only - Thursday 21 November)

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Social Events

There were a variety of social events that allowed student interaction on levels other than academic.

Friday Sundowner and dinner at the Victoria Hotel in Queenscliff.
Saturday Sundowner at the Vue Grand followed by dinner at Apostles in Queenscliff.
Sunday dinner at the Vue Grand followed by the 3rd Annual Student Symposium Quiz Night, also held at the Vue Grand. This year’s Quiz Night was won by “John’s Team” and the wooden spoon went to “Hoff’s Angels”.
Monday evening Sundowner and the Student Symposium Awards Dinner were held at the Geelong Mercure Hotel.

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Student Participants

Student	Degree	Area	CRC	University	Topic of Research
Ballantyne, Grant	Honours	Metallurgical Engineering	CSRP	University of Queensland	Recovery and Utilisation of Carbonaceous Material by Flotation and Combustion
Champion, Michael	Honours	Mechanical Optimisation	CRC Mining	University of Queensland	Optimal Drill Pattern Sequencing for Multi-Boom Jumbos
Cocks, Robert	PhD	Water and Mining	CSRP	Murdoch University	Assessment Models in Sustainable Water Sourcing, Use and Reuse for Newmont Gold Mine Operations (Aust/NZ)
Goldspink. Megan	Honours	Physics	CSRP	Curtin University	Water Properties of Fly Ash Based Geopolymer
Hajimohammadi, Ailar	PhD	Chemical Engineering	Independent	University of Melbourne	Synthesis of One-Part Geopolymer Mixes
Hodge, Elizabeth	PhD	Coal Gasification	CCSD	University of NSW	Gasification Rates of Coal Chars at High Temperature and Pressure
Jarman, Casey	Honours	Metallurgical and Chemical Engineering	CSRP	University of Queensland	Coarse Liberation and Energy Requirements
Jones, Andrew	PhD	Mineral Science	Independent	Murdoch University	Enhanced Metal Recovery from a Modified Caron Leach of Mixed Nickel-Cobalt Intermediate Concentrate
McNeilly, Ian R.	PhD	Electrochemistry	CSRP	Central Queensland University	The Stability of Protective Corrosion Films Under Intense Flow Condition
Medvecka, Jacqueline	PhD	Sustainable Development	CSRP	University of Queensland	Thinking consequences & choosing sustainability in the metal industry: the case of an engineering firm
Mohr, Steve	PhD	Modelling Energy Resources	CSRP	University of Newcastle	Transport Fuels Outlook to 2100
Nasir, Ahmad Bilal	PhD	Civil Engineering (Environmental)	CSRP	Curtin University	Effect of Long Term Drought on Cracking in the Core of Embankment Dams
Neimanis, Michael	PhD	Plant Biogeochemistry / Mineral Exploration	LEME	University of Adelaide	Plant Biogeochemistry of Uranium Mineralisation for Mineral Exploration Through Cover
Ramirez-Melgoza, Alberto	PhD	Business	CSRP	University of Queensland	In-Group Members' Categorisations, Negative Attitudes and Aggressive Behaviours Towards Out-Group Members in the Resource Sector Workplace: The Role of Emotional Intelligence and Creativity
Rowe, James	PhD	Metallurgy	Independent	University of Ballarat	The Nature and Behaviour of Carbonaceous Material in the Treatment of a Refractory Gold Bearing Ore
Shah, Pushan	PhD	Environmental Studies	CCSD	Macquarie University	Trace Elements Analysis of Coal Combustion Systems
Soltaninaveh, Kaveh	MEng	Civil Engineering	CSRP	Curtin University	The Properties of Geopolymer Concrete Incorporating Red Sand as Fine Aggregate
Thompson, Graeme	PhD	Extractive Metallurgy	CSRP	Murdoch University	Enhanced Cobalt Recovery from a Caron Leach of Pre-Reduced Laterite Ore
Tuazon, Daniel	Gap Year	Environmental Engineering / Software Development	CSRP	University of Queensland	Bauxite Residue Sustainability Measure of Improvement
Wheatley, Sophie	Honours	Extractive Metallurgy	CSRP	Murdoch University	Silica Enhanced Leaching of Chalcopyrite
White, Claire	PhD	Geopolymers	Independent	University of Melbourne	Multiscale Modelling of Geopolymers
Williams, Ross	Honours	Physics	CSRP	Curtin University	Characterisation of Starting Materials for Fly Ash Based Geopolymers
Worrall, Stewart	PhD	Engineering	CRC Mining	University of Sydney	Situation Awareness and Improving the Safety Culture in Mining Using Technology

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Award Winners

All students made 15 minute Power Point presentations with a 5 minute question and answer session describing their thesis research. Rio Tinto again sponsored scholarship prises totalling $3,250 for the most outstanding presentations. All participants were given presentation guidelines aimed at allowing them to describe their work in a manner that was understandable to other participants. Judges used a structured matrix that scored presentations based on technical content, structure, personal style, presentation skills and overall impression. Mr Stevan Green, Dr Nick Welham and Dr Dan Churach acted as symposium judges and scored the talks.

Postgraduate Prizes

First Place (1 x $1000)

Steve Mohr, University of Newcastle and CSRP
"Transport Fuels Outlook to 2100"

Second Place (2 x $500)

Jacqueline Medvecka, University of Queensland and CSRP
"Thinking Consequences and Choosing Sustainability in the Metal Industry: The Case of an Engineering Firm"

Stewart Worrall, University of Sydney and CRC Mining
"Situation Awareness and Improving the Safety Culture in Mining using Technology"

Third Place (2 x $250)

Elizabeth Hodge, University of New South Wales and CRC for Coal in Sustainable Development
"Gasification Rates of Coal Chars at High Temperature and Pressure"

Michael Champion, University of Queensland and CRC Mining
"Optimal Drill Pattern Sequencing for Multi-Boom Jumbos"

Steve Mohr

First Prize: Steve Mohr

Jacqueline Medvecka

Second Prize: Jacqueline Medvecka

Stewart Worrell

Second Prize: Stewart Worrell

Michael Champion

Third Prize: Michael Champion

Elizabeth Hodge

Third Prize: Elizabeth Hodge

Undergraduate Prizes

First Place (1 x $400) Sophie Wheatley, Murdoch University and CSRP "Silica Enhanced Leaching of Chalcopyrite"
Second Place (1 x $100) Megan Goldspink, Curtin University of Technology and CSRP "Water Properties of Fly Ash Based Geopolymer"
Best and Worst Musical Presentation (2 x wooden spoons) Graeme Thompson, Murdoch University and CSRP Two personally composed songs that had all the dogs in Queenscliff howling.
First Prize: Sophie Wheatley	Second Prize: Megan Goldspink	Wooden Spoon: Graeme Thompson

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> Read about one student participant's reflections

> View additional photographs