A few more thoughts on the topic.
If we draw a distinction between the geological profession and the mineral
industry, do they really have the same interests? It is in the interests of
university geological schools and the mining industry to have large numbers
of students and large numbers of graduates. Thus, more money for the
universities and a plentiful supply of geologists for the mining industry.
However, does this benefit those already employed in the industry? Looked
at from the viewpoint of those in the industry a closed shop would be of
more benefit! Is there anything to be learnt from the medical and legal
professions here?
Comments anyone?
Cheers,
John
John Elliot
Anzeco Pty. Limited
mineral exploration consulting services
26 Casey Circuit,
Bathurst, NSW 2795, AUSTRALIA
phone: (02) 6331 4925
fax: (02) 6331 9111
----- Original Message -----
From: "dave pollard" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, April 22, 2006 6:22 PM
Subject: Re: Solving the Skills Crisis
> I can completely identify with what John Elliot has
> stated. I am also in a position where I have as much
> work as I can handle. It is very pleasing to be
> earning a prosperous living using my skills and
> experience as an exploration geologist.
> On talking about the 1998 - 2003 mining industry
> recession, I find many of my professional colleagues
> reluctant to explain how they made ends meet over
> those difficult years. For the sake of this coming
> event at RSM, I will outline how I supported my wife
> and two sons over that time.
> I worked in factories, on building sites and in
> warehouses as a casual labourer often earning the
> minimum wage (or slightly above it). During that time,
> I made 100's of phone calls around the world and
> financed my way to spending 3 weeks of door knocking
> of mining companies in Peru, all to no avail. Being as
> qualified as I was, I found that I could not persuade
> employers to take me on for skilled professional posts
> as I was overqualified whilst for labouring positions,
> my educational background was ignored. (I hold an
> M.Sc. in Mineral Exploration.)
> I warmly welcome geology graduates to seek and take up
> employment within the mineral exploration sector; it
> is a rewarding and very interesting area of
> employment. However, the possibility / probability of
> having to spent a number of years being forced to earn
> a living doing somthing ENTIRELY DIFFERENT AND
> POSSIBLY HIGHLY UNINTERESTING must be conveyed to
> these students / graduates.
> Regards
> David M. Pollard
> Consultant Geologist
>
>
> --- John Elliot <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > MessageDear Barry and John,
> > I am a practising contract geologist in minerals
> > exploration and like every other similar geologist,
> > have been subject to every boom and bust in the
> > industry in my career. ( Is it my imagination or are
> > the busts always longer than the booms?) Personally
> > I hope the current shortage of geologists lasts
> > forever and that the profession is not about to
> > destroy the golden goose by churning out masses of
> > graduates.
> >
> > I hope starry-eyed students are made aware of the
> > pitfalls as well as the highs of the job told that
> > by the time they graduate there's a good chance
> > we'll be in another bust and the facelesss men in
> > finance will have taken charge and sacked the
> > geologists.
> >
> > It is a great life, students, but if you want to
> > make money go into accounting or law.
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> > John Elliot
> > Anzeco Pty. Limited
> > mineral exploration consulting services
> > Bathurst, NSW 2795, AUSTRALIA
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Chapman, John
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Sent: Thursday, April 20, 2006 9:26 PM
> > Subject: Solving the Skills Crisis
> >
> >
> > Dear all,
> >
> > As you'll no doubt be aware, despite the current
> > commodities boom and widespread optimism, the global
> > mining industry is facing an acute skills shortage.
> > However, with enrolments to mining and geology
> > courses on the increase, there has never been a
> > better time to act.
> >
> > Following the last low in the mining cycle, links
> > between academic institutions and the mining
> > industry in the UK are relatively weak, and as part
> > of a campaign to better educate students about the
> > opportunities offered by the mining industry and get
> > graduates back into mining, a 'Students into Mining'
> > evening has been organised at the Royal School of
> > Mines, Imperial College London.
> >
> > This will take place on Tuesday, 2nd May,
> > beginning at 5pm, and will consist of a series of
> > short presentations followed by an informal
> > networking session in Harringtons Bar where
> > students, academics and professionals can meet,
> > discuss opportunities, and exchange ideas over some
> > food and drinks.
> >
> > A selection of companies will be talking briefly
> > about their activities, life in the industry and, in
> > particular, focusing on any work experience they can
> > offer to the students and graduates to help them
> > gain vital practical skills and increase their
> > exposure to mining and mineral exploration.
> >
> > The event is completely free due to the generous
> > support of our sponsors, who include; The Mineral
> > Deposits Studies Group of the Geological Society,
> > SRK Consulting, Proactiveinvestors.com, Mining
> > Communications and Serabi Mining, along with several
> > other companies to be confirmed. The evening is open
> > to everyone - any students or recent graduates from
> > any institution, and mining and minerals industry
> > professionals from any discipline or background.
> >
> > If you are interested in attending this event, or
> > have any questions or comments relating to this
> > initiative, please don't hesitate to contact me at
> > [log in to unmask] Please forward this
> > information to anyone not on the Geomineralisation
> > list who may be interested. I look forward to
> > welcoming many of you to the Royal School of Mines
> > on the 2nd.
> >
> > Many thanks and kind regards,
> >
> >
> > - Barry
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> **************************************************************
> >
> > Barry Stoffell MSci ARSM
> >
> > Fluid Processes and Mineralization Research
> >
> > Room 2.58F
> >
> > Royal School of Mines
> >
> > Imperial College London
> >
> > SW7 2BP
> >
> >
> >
> > Tel: +44(0) 20759 47195
> >
> > Mob: +44(0) 7929 231621
> >
> >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
> > Geo-mineralisation is administered by the Mineral
> > Deposits Studies Group (UK) (http://www.mdsg.or.uk)
> >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
> > Geo-mineralisation is administered by the Mineral
> > Deposits Studies Group (UK)
> > (www.mdsg.or.uk)
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ___________________________________________________________
> Yahoo! Messenger - NEW crystal clear PC to PC calling worldwide with
voicemail http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
> Geo-mineralisation is administered by the Mineral Deposits Studies Group
(UK)
> (www.mdsg.or.uk)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Geo-mineralisation is administered by the Mineral Deposits Studies Group (UK)
(www.mdsg.or.uk)
|