SEG 45 Final_qx4 - Society of Economic Geologists

More documents

Recommendations

Info

SEG NEWS 16 SEG NEWSLETTER No 63 • OCTOBER 2005 SEG Thayer Lindsley Lecture Tour - 2004 François Robert (SEG 1991 F) Barrick Gold Corporation Reflecting back on my Thayer Lindsley lecture tour after several months, I can offer a clearer perspective on the high value of such lecture tours for SEG and for the institutions visited (especially students), as well as for the lecturer and his employer (Barrick Gold, in my case). Four presentations were offered in the course of the year: Characteristics of lode gold deposits in greenstone belts; Giant gold deposits of the Abitibi greenstone belt; Controls and timing of gold-quartz veins in the Val d’Or district, Abitibi greenstone belt; Geology and setting of gold deposits in the North Carlin trend, Nevada. Each lecture also emphasized the importance of understanding the regional geology in deciphering the controls on the location of deposit and the role of basic field geology in developing such understanding. The Carlin lecture was the most commonly requested one, followed by the review of characteristics of greenstone gold deposits. The lectures were tailored to the needs of the local institutions, and ranged from a halfhour talk, as part of a local symposium, to 45-minute lectures, to two-hour seminars. Most institutions requested two presentations, in a few cases back-to-back with a 15 min break in between! Owing to my relocation of family from Perth to Montreal in the middle of Organizers of the two Thayer Lindsley lectures presented at Laval University, Quebec City. From left to right: Benoît Dubé (local SEG sponsor); Georges Beaudoin (faculty sponsor); and executive members of the SEG-student chapter at Laval: Martin Aucoin (Treasurer); Julie Bernard (Vice President); François Robert (Thayer Lindsley lecturer); Nancy Lafrance (President); Virgine Garnier (Vice President, external affairs). the year to become Barrick’s Chief Geologist – South America, the lecture tour consisted of an Australian leg in the first half of the year, and a North American leg in the fall. As a result, 24 lectures were presented in 16 cities. In Australia, I visited Monash University (Melbourne), CODES-University of Tasmania (Hobart), James Cook University (Townsville), and CGM- University of Western Australia (Perth). I also gave a presentation to a group of Placer Dome geologists in Kalgoorlie. During the North American leg, I visited the following US institutions: South Dakota School of Mines (Rapid City), Montana Tech Institute (Butte), New Mexico Tech Institute (Socorro), and Colorado School of Mines (Golden). In Canada, I visited MDRU-University of British Columbia and the Geological Survey of Canada (Vancouver), University of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon), Laurentian University and Sudbury Geological Discussion Group (Sudbury), Queen’s University (Kingston), Carleton University/University of Ottawa (Ottawa), McGill University (Montreal), and Laval University (Quebec City). Unfortunately, I was not able to accommodate additional requests from Europe and South America. I was very impressed with the level of interest in the presentations themselves, which attracted an average attendance of 20 to 30 geologists, and the level of questions and discussions that followed, formally…and informally, around some drinks. At all institutions, as much as the schedule allowed, I also made a point to discuss geology and research with selected faculty members and graduate students. This was a way both to learn what is happening on the research front and to share the perspective of a large exploration company on university-based research. In several institutions, I also made informal presentations to graduate and undergraduate students during which I shared my views on the challenges and rewards of working for a large exploration company, provided information about Barrick Gold, and answered questions (and there were generally many) regarding employment opportunities and careers in mineral exploration. In a few specific cases, I also interviewed undergraduate students with a view to identifying top candidates for vacation employment or even permanent positions within the company. What are the benefits of all this? For SEG, this is an excellent vehicle to expose its members, and especially student members, to the latest ideas in diverse fields of economic geology, conveyed by geologists with different backgrounds. This was clearly illustrated by the level of discussions that followed most presentations. In my particular case, these lectures are also a good way for SEG to promote a closer link and closer communication between academia and industry. For the lecturer, the real benefits were new ideas and concepts about gold deposits and their exploration, as well as a clarification of some puzzling aspects of what I was lecturing about (!). And the networking aspect of such lecture tours is not to be overlooked. For Barrick, besides contributing to the visibility of the company, this lecture tour resulted in the hiring of top-quality new graduates for exploration and mine geology teams. This also resulted in the funding of a few new research projects that were initially discussed or identified during the tour. I must thank SEG for providing this unique opportunity, as well as logistical and financial assistance. Thanks also to all the students and faculty that organized my lectures and associated social events, and for hosting me so well. Thanks also to me employer for allowing me to invest the time in preparing and delivering these lectures. Finally, I cannot close this note without saying that I felt rather distinguished at the beginning of this exciting assignment, but that I was fairly extinguished by the end! This was a very positive and stimulating experience on all fronts. 1
OCTOBER 2005 • No 63 SEG NEWSLETTER 17 MENTORING The Mentoring column is a regular feature of the SEG Newsletter, with contributions of up to 700 words. Personal anecdotes are sought from those who have mentored and/or who have been mentored by another. Those interested in contributing should contact Steve Garwin (Steve.Garwin@geoinformex.com) or Lucy Chapman (Lucy.Chapman@jcu.edu.au) regarding details of submittal. Regina Baumgartner, Student Member: An Interview by Steve Garwin (SEG 1996 F) Regina Baumgartner is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Geneva in Switzerland, where she is working towards the completion of her thesis on the Metallogeny of the Cerro de Pasco district, Peru. Regina obtained her B.Sc. in geology and Grad. Dip. in geophysics from Lausanne, Switzerland. She completed her M.Sc. on the geochemistry and geochronology of pegmatites in Brazil, while at the University of Geneva. She is fluent in French, English, Spanish, and German and in her spare time she enjoys sports. Regina was interviewed by Steve Garwin, co-editor of the SEG Mentoring column, while at the Gordon Conference on Ore Deposits, held in New Hampshire during early August. Q: Regina, when did you know you wanted to be a geologist – was there a particular event that helped you make this decision? A: My father’s love of chemistry encouraged my enthusiasm in the sciences. My sister had a friend who was a geography student and he spent a lot of time in the field; as I have always loved outdoor sports, this interested me. In my final year at school, I visited the University of Lausanne and attended a Sedimentology sedimentology class and made a new friend, who encouraged me to go into geology. These experiences coupled with my enjoyment of crystallography taught in a mathematics class during my senior year at high school encouraged me to pursue a university degree in geology. Q: Do you have a picture in mind for how your next ten years will develop? A: Ideally, I would prefer to work in a research role for a mining & and exploration company. I look forward to solving problems that involve both field and laboratory studies. I am particularly interested in field work in South America. Q: Is there a company that you would like to work for and why—what is it about this group that you like? A: Nothing specific at this point. I look forward to learning what it is like to work for a mining & and exploration company… ; see how the company works. I seek opportunities for mentoring in industry, which include instruction on the practical aspects of exploration, training programs, and site visits. Q: What would you like to see more of in the actions of companies today that would encourage you to join the industry? A: More industry visits to universities! This does not happen very often in Europe. It would be great if industry geoscientists would tell the graduating students why exploration is so interesting, what is expected of them and how to better prepare for a job in mining & and exploration. I would like to learn more about what sort of jobs are available in industry. Q: Have you had a vacation job? What did you learn from it? What did you like and what did you dislike? A: Yes, I had a summer job in Switzerland for one month in 1999. I mapped fractures and faults in an exploration tunnel through the Alps to help determine the viability of constructing a road through the mountain to access a ski resort. This work was for a geotechnical company. There were two of us (student employees), both females. We found it a little difficult at first, in that our supervisor was not consistent in his guidance and we had to become accustomed to a predominantly male environment. I enjoyed the mapping and compilation of data and the learning opportunity. I would like the chance to participate in a company or government internship program, but these are not common in Switzerland. Q: The SEG President wrote an article (Hitzman, January 2005) that outlined the skills of a modern geologist. He pointed out that professionals today require a range of skills to compete in the global market, beyond the core topics of a geoscience degree, including information technology, languages, social and environmental science, mineral economics; beyond an introductory level. Do you have a specific comment? Can you comment on how your degree prepares you for such an expectation? A: Generally, I agree. I understand the usefulness of speaking multiple languages, the ability to work in different cultures and interact amicably with local communities –— this makes the job more interesting (I love my field work in Peru)! I feel that I have the requisite language and computer skills to make a valuable contribution to the industry. In addition, I took courses on entrepreneurship while at university. I have had field experience through academic field programs, but these do not teach us how to be ready for industry. Q: Do you think there are extra challenges for females in the business? A: Oh yes… If a woman is single and ambitious, then there generally is not a problem. I feel that the challenge lies in striking a balance between working and raising a family. Women add an extra dimension to the team. Of course, it may be easier for an employer to not deal with some of these issues by hiring a guy— but this is only my perception and I do not intend to imply that there is discrimination in the industry. I have yet to work in industry, so it is difficult for me to know the situation. Q: Do you have a mentor? How did this relationship develop? How do you interact with your mentor? A: I am lucky to have several mentors in both academia and industry. I have gained knowledge and ideas by talking with others at meetings and field trips. I like to keep their advice and stories in my mind for potential application to my life and career. I keep in touch with some of my mentors through email and in person, when we are able to meet up. Q: Do you have a request or question for members of industry? A: Yes, would it be possible for industry geoscientists to visit European universities more frequently to inform students what should be done in preparation for future employment? In addition, students would benefit from feed-back on the quality of their work—because when one is adrift in the “sea of the Ph.D.” it is helpful to receive the opinions of those who are active in industry. Thank you Regina! If you would like to get in touch with Regina, or would like to contribute to this column via an interview, please contact Steve Garwin or Lucy Chapman. 1 SEG NEWS
Page 1 and 2: Celebrating a Century of Economic G
Page 3 and 4: OCTOBER 2005 • No 63 SEG NEWSLETT
Page 15: OCTOBER 2005 • No 63 SEG NEWSLETT
Page 27 and 28: DAY 1 - Saturday, May 13, 2006 SEG
Page 51 and 52: NEW IN 2005 The Economic Geology 10

SEG 45 Final_qx4 - Society of Economic Geologists

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?