About the Centre for Water in the Minerals Industry
The Centre for Water in the Minerals Industry (CWiMI) is committed to developing sustainable management of water in the minerals and energy industries by solving environmental, social and engineering challenges of water management.
It seeks to promote practices that enable efficient management of water quantity and quality within the minerals sector and to underpin healthy regional water systems in catchments that contain mining activities.
The Centre has strong technical expertise in hydrology, hydrogeology, soil hydrology, geochemistry, water resource engineering, spatial science, data science, climate science and aquatic ecology. The team integrates these disciplines to develop systems-based solutions to manage water as a shared resource.
Research themes
The water related challenges that the mining and gas industries face span operational, social and environmental considerations. The Centre’s research falls within four themes to address these considerations.
Water Management
CWiMI has pioneered approaches that promote efficiency, transparency, reduced costs, and lower risks for mine water management. We promote sustainable water management to help the minerals industry secure enough water for production and operate in appropriate locations, whilst minimising negative environmental impacts and maintaining a social licence to operate.
Hydrology and Hydrogeology
CWiMI is helping the mining and gas industries effectively manage their water interactions. Our goal is to accurately quantify and advise on surface and subsurface hydrological risks that can affect mine and gas operations.
Hydrochemistry and Aquatic Ecology
CWiMI is helping the mining and gas industries achieve effective management of water and protection of freshwater ecosystems. Our goal is to understand water quantity and quality interactions in surface and ground water systems to promote ecologically sustainable development and to provide expert advice on catchment water management.
Society and Water
Water is society’s most precious resource. It is vital for human existence and often has a social value that is difficult to measure. CWiMI, working with SMI’s Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, creates the capability for the mining and gas industries to incorporate social considerations into its water management practices.
Centre Director
Professor Claire Côte
View Claire Côte research profile
Leadership
Dr Robynne Chrystal
View Robynne Chrystal's research profile
Professor Neil McIntyre
View Neil McIntyre’s research profile
Associate Professor Mansour Edraki
View Mansour Edraki’s research profile
The Centre for Water in the Minerals Industry provides opportunities for students wanting to enrol in an Honours, Master of Philosophy (MPhil) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program.
Our Centre has an environmental focus and the research topics available relate to the sustainable management of water resources in the mining and energy sectors. Our research topics address current industry questions across multiple fields.
Under the guidance of our academic researchers, students are able to make significant contributions to sustainability in mining specialising in water resources.
See available higher degree by research projects and topics
Find out more on studying at the Sustainable Minerals Institute
The Centre for Water in the Minerals Industry short courses are offered to environmental personnel working on mine sites, environmental consultants, government regulators, policy makers, and other scientists and water resources engineers working with the mining industry. Our courses focus on specialised topics and connect participants with the latest research and best practice to increase knowledge and skills.
Our Mine Water Management Program is designed to provide professionals with the technical skills necessary to implement best practice water management on mine sites.
For enquiries about professional development or custom courses, email education@smi.uq.edu.au.
Contact us
Get in touch for any enquiries.
+61 7 3443 4307 smi.admin@uq.edu.au
Location
Level 5, Sir James Foots Building (47A),
Corner College & Staff House Roads
The University of Queensland, St Lucia,
Brisbane, QLD 4072 Australia
CWiMI news
Find SMI on social media
SMI on LinkedInSMI on XSMI on YouTubeSMI on FacebookSMI on SoundCloud