Keynote Speakers at SME Conference show UArizona Connection

This year’s virtual SME annual conference featured strong UArizona representation. In addition to various presentations by faculty and students (see overview), keynote speakers had a connection with the University on four out of five conference days, underlining the University's presence in the mining world.

Douglas Silver explorationist, mineral economist and financier opened the conference with an informational and entertaining talk centered on the interconnectivity of the mining industry with other ecosystems. Financial models so far have not sufficiently included the cost of mining’s long-term consequences in terms of environmental degradation. To reduce CO2 emissions, underground mining must be prioritized over open-pit mines. But to make it a reality, new technology is needed to help discover underground deposits, hence Silver’s encourages geophysicists: “Your term has come, your time to shine.” He himself graduated from UArizona as a Master of Science in Economic Geology.

Mark Baker, founder of Modular Mining, countered the image of mining as an archaic and very conservative industry. He pointed out that the mining industry has had a lot of firsts – from mobile computing and touch screens to remotely operated equipment and autonomous vehicles. However, he also conceded that the mining industry tends to be the first to develop, but the last to keep up: “Mining companies like to be the first to be second.” Baker is a BSEE graduate from UArizona. (also read our article: The First to be Second)

William Wilkinson received the SME’s Robert M. Dreyer award. Wilkinson looked back on his four-decade long career, acknowledging his mentor from his time at UArizona, where he received his Ph.D. in geosciences. He worked prospecting on five continents and stressed that prospecting results in adding reserves. But the process is long, and success is by no means guaranteed: “We need to look at about 5,000 prospects before we get to two that might make it to a feasibility study.”

Eric Lutz, Director of the International Safety, Health and Risk program at UArizona, held a signature presentation on receiving the SME Research and Educational Excellence Award. He analyzed the course of the coronavirus pandemic, pointing out that in a mining operation the same principles can be applied to this risk as to other risks the industry is familiar with, like particulate exposure or slip and trip risk. His outlook was optimistic, however: “Hope is not a strategy, and enthusiasm is not resolution.” For any necessary measures, it is important to communicate the why to achieve compliance, and to explain how long they will last – measured in milestones, not a specific date. And lastly: If it helps your cause, don’t be afraid to insert some humor!