UNESCO-IGCP: Stone for Development Work Integrated Learning and Action Research Program

2022–2023 Program dates: 22 November 2022 – 18 December 2022

Cohort: International early career geoscientists and upper-level undergraduate and post-graduate students (Masters and PhD) from Pacific

Background 

Across the world, the production of aggregates (sand, gravel and crushed stone), limestone, cement, clay, gypsum and other construction materials and industrial minerals are generating acute environmental, social and economic challenges, while at the same time are fundamental for the achievement of many of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals; whether it be the matter that underpins infrastructure, housing, road building, and disaster reconstruction; or through support for the livelihoods of large numbers of employees in domestic small and medium sized businesses.

International financial institutions have heavily promoted globally traded ‘high value’ metals and energy minerals as a pathway to economic development for developing countries, due to the potential to generate foreign currency and tax revenues. There are significant issues, however, that need to be carefully navigated when pursuing this model of export-led, raw commodity-based development as demonstrated by the wide literature on the resource curse and Dutch disease, conflict minerals, the flyover effect, and Dependency Theory. Industrial minerals and construction materials are, by contrast, mined and used locally. They typically don’t generate the same macroeconomic and political challenges because fiscal returns are modest. Instead, they generate important domestic economic linkages that more directly benefit local people.

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Project Summary

At present few undergraduate or post-graduate education and research programmes are focussed on Development Minerals-related topics despite the fact working opportunities for geoscientists in this field being wide and the potential for sustainable development impact high. This project will engage upper-level undergraduate and post-graduate students, as well as geo-scientists from the Pacific region and globally in work-integrated learning and action research. Through the participation of early career scientists, the project will contribute to knowledge generation and transfer, and enhance the cooperation of academic institutions, government agencies, and the private sector. The following are possible topics of projects to be implemented with local partners:

1. Environmental Protection
2. Disaster Reconstruction
3. Strengthening Local Supply Chains
4. Quarry Management
5. Gender equity and empowerment