New season, new MIWATCH starters!
Spring seems to have sprung early in Brisbane and with it the Mine Waste Transformation through Characterisation (MIWATCH) research group welcomes two new starters – Dr Eric O Ansah starting as a postdoctoral researcher and Master of Sciences Candidate Pamela Curi.
Dr Eric O Ansah’s journey through the world of innovation has culminated in his arrival at the WH Bryan Mining Geology Research Centre (BRC) in The University of Queensland’s (UQ) Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI).
Over the past five years in Australia, Eric have immersed himself in the pursuit of novel technologies, exploring both simple and complex approaches. This journey has been marked by significant achievements, including numerous awards and valuable lessons learned from both successes and setbacks.
Eric completed his PhD at the University of Melbourne under Professor Ralf R. Haese and Dr Jay R. Black. Eric also had the privilege of working as a metallurgist with Northern Star Resources. His experiences in these roles have equipped him with a unique blend of expertise and knowledge in Geochemistry and Hydrometallurgy.
A notable accomplishment during his PhD was the development of unique heap leaching technology for combined metal extraction and mine waste reclamation to revolutionize the mining industry and address pressing environmental concerns. This technology was selected to receive funding, and commercialization as part of the BHP’s Think & Act Differently (TAD) Essential Minerals Cohort.
Beyond his technical expertise, he worked as a patent intern in the Chemistry group at Davies Collins Cave (DCC). Eric also worked with Funartech (a top AI/ML start-up), where he built tree algorithms (OR+ML) for real life applications. By so doing, he cultivated skills in project management, innovation, and entrepreneurship. These skills were instrumental in unlocking value from currently uneconomic resources, reducing costs for mining companies, and creating inert reaction products for mine reclamation.
Eric is thrilled to join the MIWATCH team to drive innovative solutions in coupled metal extraction from mine waste and mine closure/reclamation. Eric is deeply grateful to all those who have supported him along the way, including my supportive family and friends as well as dedicated mentors from the University of Mines & Technology, Kyushu University and Hokkaido University in Ghana, Japan, Canada and USA.
Pamela is a UQ Master of Science student in Environmental Management, where her focus lies in sustainable mineral production techniques from waste deposits. She is currently involved in a research project with the MIWATCH team supervised by Rosie Blannin, examining Geoenvironmental Characterization and Metal Distribution in Mine Wastes to evaluate environmental risks at the Elverdton Mine tailings in Western Australia.
Pamela holds a bachelor’s degree in Mining Management Engineering from the Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas (2018). Furthermore, in 2021, she pursued specialized training in Integrated Management Systems. This knowledge helped her gain practical experience spanning artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) to large-scale mining (LSM) in Peru. This diverse background has equipped her with a comprehensive understanding of the mining life cycle, from exploration and design to processing and land rehabilitation.
MIWATCH is looking forward to leveraging her expertise in the field to conduct in-depth research on mine waste and collaborating closely with the team to achieve comprehensive results.
A very warm welcome to them both and together we hope to pave the way for a more sustainable future in the mining industry.