Nov 22 2005
The University of South Australia (UniSA) is set to lead a new multi-million dollar Australian Centre comprising a consortium of world class Australian university research centres and a global network of 24 collaborators.
To be known as the Australian Mineral Science Research Institute (AMSRI), it will focus on science that will promote minerals and related industry efficiency locally and worldwide.
The new Institute will be supported by the largest Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage grant ever awarded – with a cash value of more than $22 million, comprising ARC, industry, University and State Government of South Australia contributions.
The Australian partners are UniSA’s Ian Wark Research Institute, the Australian Research Council Special Research Centre for Particle and Material Interfaces as lead institute, led by Laureate Professor John Ralston; the University of Queensland’s Julius Krutschnitt Mineral Research Centre; the ARC Special Research Centre for Multiphase Processes at the University of Newcastle; and the ARC Special Research Centre for Particulate Fluids Processing at the University of Melbourne.
Delighted with the announcement Professor Ralston said the foundation of AMSRI would underpin broad and significant benefits to the Australian community.
“Minerals and related industries, and the science being developed to improve those industries, are making an impact on peoples lives in many ways that are not always obvious,” Professor Ralston said.
“This new Institute will strengthen Australian technological and scientific leadership in particle science and engineering and support the kinds of innovations that improve energy efficiency, enhance frugal water use and waste management, devise improved minerals processing, and develop new and better materials.”
As Director and founder of the Ian Wark Research Institute, Professor Ralston said the support of the South Australian Government in promoting the proposal for the new Institute and UniSA’s lead role, had been invaluable.
“We have had strong support from state Ministers Karlene Maywald and Paul Holloway because they have understood not only the excellence in research that already exists in South Australia, but also the importance of a powerful national research alliance in these fields, for both our state and the nation,” he said.
AMSRI has been coordinated by AMIRA-International which secured industry support and collaboration from BHP- Billiton, Rio Tinto, Anglo Platinum, Phelps Dodge, Orica and Xstrata Technology.
AMSRI will also provide advanced in-situ and ex-situ analysis and high level mathematical modelling for the minerals processing industry.
Professor Ralston said a key objective of AMSRI was to generate new knowledge.
“We want to attract and educate outstanding graduate students internationally to develop their careers in Australia,” Professor Ralston said.
“I believe we will also be a core institute nationally and internationally in particle science and engineering research with the world’s best researchers on board. From that base our aim will be to contribute to the Federal Government’s Mining Technology Services Action Agenda to achieve $6 billion in minerals technology services exports by 2010.
“The Institute will also bring together research disciplines from other industry sectors with those of the minerals sector and apply research outcomes to industries beyond minerals.”
http://www.unisa.edu.au
Posted 22nd November