Challenges in translational research to develop innovative environmental technologies
Speaker: Professor Longbin Huang, Group Leader Ecological Engineering of Mine Wastes, Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation, Sustainable Minerals Institute
Abstract: It is of a great challenge for researchers to develop game changing technologies for cost-effective and sustainable operations in mining and mineral processing sectors, such as technologies for rehabilitating large volumes of tailings under field operable conditions. It involves translation of innovative and multidisciplinary concepts and knowledge into technological systems, which are robust enough to achieve expected outcomes, in response to inputs. Many research projects failed to achieve the technological outcomes due to the inadequate understanding of the “real world” problems and socio-economic operational context. In this seminar, I would like to share my experience in developing eco-engineering technologies for rehabilitating tailings, for highlighting the critical considerations required in the R&D process to develop game-changing technologies.
Bio: Longbin Huang is a full professor and the group leader of Ecological Engineering of Mine Wastes, at the Sustainable Minerals Institute . Longbin has been leading many large industry projects (worth > $15 million over the last decade) directly/jointly funded by governments and large mining and minerals companies, to develop game-changing technologies to repurpose tailings and mine wastes for cost-effective and sustainable tailings rehabilitation. He has been leading the frontier of developing new technologies of ecological engineering of mine wastes, for rehabilitating ferrous and base metal mine tailings (e.g., magnetite tailings, bauxite residues (or red mud), Cu/Pb-Zn tailings). In 2019, Longbin's translational research achievements were recognised in UQ’s Partners in Research Excellence Award in the “Resilient Environments” (together with Rio Tinto and Queensland Alumina Ltd).
About JKMRC Friday Seminars 2021
Welcome to the 2021 Series of the JKMRC Friday Seminars. The list of presentations will aim to cover a range of topics related to the minerals sector from decision making in exploration, new mineral processing technologies, social licence to operate and mine closure.
The JKMRC Friday Seminars will be presented both in person, at the Indooroopilly Mine Site Lecture Theatre, and also as webinar. Registration for the webinar is required and can be made via the registration link in each seminar overview.
A large number of past webinars can be accessed on the SMI website: https://smi.uq.edu.au/webinars
Previous seminars have been uploaded to YouTube via the following link: https://www.youtube.com/user/smiuq
The final seminar in the 2021 series will be held on Friday 22 October.