Funding geoscience education

Mining and exploration companies owe their success, in large measure, to the technical and scientific expertise of geologists, geophysicists and geochemists. These professionals select areas to explore, be they old mining districts or geologic-tectonic terrains with high potential, and manage technical programs. They are the products of Canada’s universities, specializing in mining geology and mineral exploration.

Throughout this past century, our industry has been blessed with a steady supply of graduates. This was especially the case through to the late 1980s, but, at the end of that decade, a protracted slump in metal markets caused widespread layoffs of mining personnel. After a few years, enrolment decreased in geosciences. Departments that normally welcomed 25 or more students each year saw this drop to five or 10 in the early to mid-1990s. The numbers are up again, but not to past averages. This is generally viewed as a temporary reaction to a dip in the industry cycle, and that it will right itself with time.

However, geoscience departments are small, and, as such, they are vulnerable to budgets and internal pressures. Low enrolment has pushed up cost/student ratios, which, in turn, has attracted the attention of university administrators, who continue to face severe cuts in government funding. It is a national problem, and geosciences generally have been cut more deeply than others. Indeed, several departments have been closed and others scaled down and combined with other departments. There are still 17 geoscience departments in Canada, but they are much smaller than before, and many are too small to offer comprehensive degree programs. Our Canadian “edge” in producing top-notch explorationists who adapt quickly to challenges may soon be lost.

Industry does sponsor arm’s-length scholarship and thesis research programs, but it has offered little financial or other support to keep exploration and mining geology subjects in university curricula.

Financial assistance for industry-oriented programs can be provided in many ways. Some are spectacular and catch headlines. Two recent examples are geologist Stewart Blusson’s donation of $50 million to the University of British Columbia and Franco-Nevada Mining President Pierre Lassonde’s donation of $5 million to geoscience at the University of Toronto.

Our priority at McGill University is to reinstate the MINEX program, and, toward that end, a committee of alumni from industry has been established to seek funds.

Highly trained exploration personnel are a valuable commodity, and universities are closing the product line for want of funding. The time has come to invest in this fundamental cornerstone of our industry.

— The author is a professor emeritus at McGill University.