By promoting the benefits a career in mining engineering can yield to global societies, the next generation can be guided to help build the world we need, together.
Ahead of his upcoming keynote presentation, titled Future Engineering Skills, at the International Future Mining Conference 2024, AusIMM spoke with Professor Julien Epps, the Dean of Engineering at UNSW to understand more about the current challenges impacting engineering skills and the critical role engineering will continue to play in mining’s future.
In this Q&A, Epps shares an insight into the recent global projections showing we are headed towards a significant shortage in engineering skills in mining, the whole-of-pipeline challenge to attract and develop people with the right skills, the critical role engineers will play in building autonomous mining systems of the future, and the need to work together to promote careers in mining and engineering.
What will your keynote presentation at #FutureMining2024 address?
JE: My keynote addresses how we can grow the engineering skills that will be needed for the future of mining.
Keynote synopsis:
Globally, and in most countries, projections show that we are headed for a significant shortage in engineering skills, and this is certainly true for the mining industry. This presentation takes a holistic view of engineering skills, considering the visibility of engineering, the pre-university skills pipeline, outreach, women in engineering, university pathways, the university experience including attrition, and learning beyond graduation. The presentation considers the wider engineering context as well as mining industry examples, and includes case studies from UNSW. Finally, some possible ways forward are suggested.
What key points do you hope delegates will take away from your keynote presentation?
JE: Developing engineering skills is a whole-of-pipeline challenge, and one that requires a proactive, whole-of-industry response. Planning to attract, develop and recruit people with the right skills is as important as any other aspect of operations, and requires serious attention.
There is a role for careers in the industry to be more visible, particularly to a wider diversity of the population, and for these careers and their impacts to be better understood by prospective engineers and their family, friends and role models who influence them.
With deposits getting deeper, and mining in extreme environments becoming increasingly common, what role will engineering play in the mines of the future?
JE: Although I have no direct experience in mining, it is clear that in extreme environments automation, and in particular AI, will play an increasingly important part. Engineers will be essential to design, build and apply autonomous systems to operate in these environments, as well as to plan, operate and manage the large projects required.
What changes have you seen throughout your career, and do you have any predictions for the future?
JE: Through my career, I have seen many changes. I have seen computing, telecommunications and automation transform the way we do everything. I have seen industry innovate, and collaborate with universities much more than in earlier times. I have seen engineering become a more diverse profession. And I have seen engineering become increasingly central to everything we do.
When I read the news in earlier times, I felt like technology and engineering was never featured enough. These days I feel like the news was written for engineers. The future is a very exciting mix of challenges and opportunities, and one in which engineering skills are certain to play an increasingly important role.
What are you looking forward to most about the upcoming conference?
JE: I am looking forward to meeting with others across the mining industry to understand how we can work together to promote careers in mining and engineering.
It will take all of our collective voices to explain to audiences outside our industry the tremendous benefits that engineering and mining can bring for our society, to show how there are opportunities for everyone to be a part of the industry, and to guide the next generation as they understand how their future career can help us build the world we need.
Join co-hosts AusIMM and UNSW at the International Future Mining Conference in Sydney from September 2–4.
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