2026 Sustainable Minerals Institute Next Generation HDR Student Conference

The 2026 Next Generation HDR Student Conference promotes knowledge exchange, networking, and industry engagement, providing HDR students from SMI, EAIT and the wider UQ community with a platform to present research and connect with leaders in the mining sector.

The 2026 conference program is organised around critical themes that reflect the main challenges and opportunities shaping the future of the mining and resources sector.

This year’s themes are:

• Environmental Management and Rehabilitiation
• Social Responsibility and Governance
• Safe and Sustainable Mining Operations

The program will include oral presentations, poster sessions, keynote addresses, panel discussions, a 3-Minute Thesis competition for SMI students, and the SMI Memorial Awards ceremony will be held on Friday 3 July.

Registration

All HDR students, academic staff, and industry guests are welcome to attend. Registration is free but essential for catering and logistics.
Conference Registration  – Fill out form (you can use this form to register attendance at the Memorial Awards also)
Registration Deadline:  June 24, 2026

Call for Abstracts - extended to 15 June!

We invite postgraduate research students at UQ working on mining and minerals-related topics to submit abstracts for oral or poster presentations. Submissions addressing key challenges and innovative solutions in the mining sector are especially encouraged, particularly within the following themes:

•    Environmental Management and Rehabilitation 
•    Social Responsibility and Governance 
•    Safe and Sustainable Mineral Exploration, Extraction and Processing 

Students from SMI are also encouraged to participate in the 3-minute thesis competition.

Call for Abstracts – Fill out form
Submission Deadline: June 15, 2026, 11:59 AEST

This is a valuable opportunity to present your work-in-progress, sharpen your presentation skills, and celebrate the diversity and impact of HDR research in the minerals industry.

If you have any questions, please contact the Organising Committee at smihdrcac@uq.edu.au.