An international summer school program will be hosted by Curtin University in November, bringing together undergraduate and postgraduate students, staff and resource experts from around the world.
Following success of the inaugural program with Tomsk State University in Russia, Curtin University will host up to 50 delegates at this year’s 10-day event, Resources for a Sustainable Future.
Professor Vladimir Golovanevskiy of Curtin’s Western Australian School of Mines (WASM) said Western Australia is the right place for exploring mining and mineral processing, oil and gas, engineering and other disciplines supporting the resources industry in Australia and internationally.
“This will be the first time an Australian university will host some of the premier Russian universities and highlight synergies and opportunities in higher education and research in the resources industry,” he said.
“It is envisaged that this first International Curtin School will open a new tradition of biannual Curtin International Schools.”
Delegates from countries including Russia, the United States, Finland, Korea, India, Brazil, Chile, Botswana, Sweden, Japan and Malaysia are expected to participate in a program including presentations by industry representatives and site visits.
Professor Golovanevskiy said the International Curtin School will help to further strengthen Curtin University’s position of a globally recognised education and research provider in the field of natural resources, and strengthen relationships with Russian and other international research institutions.
“The 13 Curtin University participants in last year’s School in Siberia still talk about the 1,200km journey through the Altai Mountains region, the guided tours of environmental biodiversity hotspots, the plenary sessions and lectures, field trips and student presentations,” he said.
“Last year’s experience was enriched by the wealth of knowledge from Tomsk State University academics and other distinguished speakers from around the world, and we hope to offer the same enlightening experience here,” he said.
Professor Golovanevskiy has played a key role in the establishment and strengthening of ties with Tomsk, including the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the six Tomsk universities and Curtin in March 2010; a three-week stay of Tomsk sculptor, Leonty Usov, as an artist-in-residence at Curtin in April 2010; a research seminar between Curtin and Tomsk Polytechnic and Tomsk State universities in October 2010; and several reciprocal senior research staff visits.
Contact:
Professor Vladimir Golovanevskiy, Western Australian School of Mines (WASM), Curtin University
Tel: 9266 9073, Email: v.golovanevskiy@curtin.edu.au
Megan Meates, Public Relations, Curtin University
Tel: 08 9266 4241, Mobile: 0401 103 755, Email: megan.meates@curtin.edu.au
