JKMRC News

Emeritus Professor Don McKee reflects on the contributions of Professor TC Rao, Dr Geoff Lyman and Honorary Professor Gideon Chitombo.

Gideon Chitombo first walked through the doors of the Julius Kruttscnitt Mineral Research Centre (JKMRC) in 1982. Little did he know it was the start of a relationship which would last over four decades and culminate in his appointment as Professor and Chair of Minerals Industry Engagement at The University of Queensland in 2009 – the world’s first professorial position of engagement.

A new type of sinter developed by University of Queensland researchers could accelerate the iron and steelmaking industry’s efforts to reduce its carbon emissions by requiring over 20% less coking coal to produce.

Iron and steelmaking account for 8% of the world’s carbon emissions and researchers from The University of Queensland’s Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI) are working to develop an alternative to the current smelting process that could rapidly accelerate the energy transition.

A Consortium of Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI) researchers and mining industry partners has been recognised as a model for collaborative, applied research at the UQ Research and Translation Awards.