New Research Precinct for Resources Sector

Whilst working with BHP Billiton, I had the pleasure of being a representative on the advisory committee for the Resources and Chemistry Precinct at Curtin University of Technology, which was opened this week.

The Precinct will be one of the largest centres of resources, energy and chemistry research and education in the Southern Hemisphere, boasting more than 200 research, teaching and support staff from the University’s Department of Chemistry and the State Government’s ChemCentre.

The Precinct is designed to provide a hub for collaborative industry-related research and education, producing world-class graduates for the resources and chemistry sectors.

Featuring 100 laboratories, the hub will provide education for the areas of hydrometallurgy, water quality testing and treatment, nonotechnology, corrosion research, forensic science and biotechnology.

BHP Billiton contributed $5m to construction and played an active role in the overall development of the Precinct, with the close association between academia and industry to improve the scientific skills base that the resources sector depends on.