Surge in geo students cramps U of T budget

Letter to the Editor

I am writing to bring to the attention of the mining community the problems that we are having fulfilling the growing demand for young geologists for the next generation of exploration.

Starting last January, I have devoted most of my time to helping resolve a small part of the problem by teaching introductory geology to first and second-year students at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM, previously known as Erindale). I just finished giving a first-year course to 220 students on “geology and public issues,” covering everything from climate change to the possible shortage of new mineral resources sometime down the road if there is not more (and successful) exploration undertaken.

Last term, I taught a similar class in general geology (called Planet Earth) and really pitched the opportunities in geology to the many students who come to university having no idea what they want to do with their lives. As a result of this, as well as other factors increasing the awareness of the growing demand for geologists, the second-year class enrolment has gone up from a typical 10-15 students to an entry group this coming semester of almost 50 students.

Last summer, I managed to get most of the better students (and even some of the not so good ones) jobs working in exploration. I guess the word may have gotten around that taking my courses could lead to a good summer job, if nothing more.

As last spring, I am teaching a second-year course starting in January in structural geology and geological mapping, with heavy emphasis on field techniques, in order to give the students a practical grounding that will hopefully make them more suitable as potential employees to exploration companies.

In addition, this spring I will be teaching a parallel course in rock forming processes, again emphasizing the students’ ability to recognize rocks in the field, in core, and so on.

However, I have almost no resources to teach these classes, especially at these growing class sizes. The previous lack of geology jobs quashed interest in geology courses, in turn resulting in a major lack of investment in items such as decent sample suites and even things as basic as student microscopes.

Whereas one might think that supplying such basic teaching tools is the responsibility of the university, or a senior level of government, nothing could be further from the truth. The universities are strapped for funds, and have increasing demands placed on them. The elimination of Grade 13 in Ontario, for example, has greatly increased enrolment at university, without a corresponding rise in financial resources. Other pressures, such as the new privacy act, have caused an increase in bureaucratic manpower. As a result, there is no money left for items such as basic teaching equipment.

I have kicked up a fuss over the lack of resources (I am happy to contribute my time for almost nothing, but I cannot afford to provide the tools as well!) and have at least got the university to recognize that there is a need they cannot fill.

I have also produced a support document that has gone out with letters from senior people at UTM to various mining companies, as well as other organizations such as the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum, in the way of a begging letter for money.

One idea I have heard of is people donating shares to a charity (which UTM is) and getting an extra tax benefit from their charitable contributions.

With the new year fast approaching, the opportunity for this sort of thing to be attractive is limited, although the department would happily take people’s money or shares at any time of the year.

In terms of improving the physical laboratory, our needs include: 30 Nikon E200 petrographic microscopes ($242,000); 15 Leica EZ4 stereo microscopes ($22,000); and teaching samples ($30,000).

We could also use about $300,000 in endowments, with the investment income directed towards field trips and equipment maintenance.

If you can help or would like more information, please contact me at terry.bottrill@utoronto.ca. Thank you for helping us publicize our need.

Terry Bottrill

Principal of Bottrill Geological Services

Oakville, Ont.