The latest Australian Geoscientist Employment Survey, designed to measure the employment prospects of geoscientists during the September quarter of 2015 is open for contributions. Please follow this link to complete the survey.
These surveys are run regularly by AIG to help to monitor employment prospects for geoscientists in Australia.
The geoscience professions in Australia are experiencing a pronounced and prolonged downturn in employment prospects. Geoscientist unemployment in Australia, in the June Quarter of 2015 was found to be comparable with that experienced at the peak of the global financial crisis in 2008-2009.
Thanks to your support, the AIG Australian Geoscientist Employment Survey is now regarded as a trusted indicator of geoscientist employment specifically, and an indicator of the health of Australia’s exploration and mining sector more generally. We need your support, for a few minutes every every quarter to maintain the value of this series of surveys.
Please note that no data that could personally identify respondents is collected by this survey.
The survey will remain open for contributions until 16th October.
The few minutes of your time spent completing the survey really helps to make a difference to the standing and knowledge of our profession. Please share the survey link with your friends and colleagues. You do not need to be an AIG member to complete the survey. Contributions are welcome from all professional geoscientists in Australia.
The Fraser Institute’s 14th annual survey of mining companies is now underway and will continue until the end of November. The survey is widely regarded as an authoritative measure of the attractiveness of exploration investment globally. The data collected will allow the survey team to identify those provinces, states, and countries that pose the greatest barriers to investment in the mining sector, as well as the reasons underlying any significant shifts in the jurisdictional rankings from a year ago.
The report on the findings of last year’s survey, Survey of Mining Companies 2014, can be downloaded here.
AIG members are invited to participate in the 2015 survey. Greater participation will help to ensure that the results reflect the views of professionals with first-hand knowledge of the mining investment climate in countries around the globe. Broad involvement in the survey will also increase the number of jurisdictions evaluated, thereby providing more governments with candid and anonymous opinions on their mining policies. The survey can be completed in less than 15 minutes. All information collected through the survey remains confidential.
Executives, managers, and other experts with mining exploration and development companies, and their advisors, are asked to complete the 2015 survey questionnaire with respect to jurisdictions about which they are knowledgeable.
To participate in this year’s survey, please send your contact information to the survey coordinator Taylor Jackson who will respond with a survey invitation. To learn more about this project, please contact Taylor Jackson by email or by telephone at the Fraser Institute’s offices in Vancouver, Canada on +1 604 688 0221 ext. 553. Your information will be kept in strict confidence, and will not be shared with anyone outside of the mining survey.
The Australian Geoscience Council (AGC) and the Australian Academy of Science (AAS) are pleased to announce the inaugural call for applications for sponsorship under our joint Travel Grant Scheme.
AIG has been closely involved in the development of our Strategic Plan for the AGC, to raise the profile of Geoscience in Australia. This was important to ensure that we allocate wisely the financial resources that are a legacy of the 34th International Geological Congress held in Brisbane in August 2012.
Another major outcome of the success of the 34th IGC is an agreement between the AGC and the AAS to create a substantial Travel Grant Scheme. The proceeds of some investments from the IGC surplus are being used to support the travel and associated expenses of Australian and New Zealand ‘early-career geoscientists’ to further their geoscience careers. This process is now in place and further details, conditions and application forms are online at www.agc.org.au . It is anticipated that this Scheme will be another significant legacy of the 34th IGC.
These travel grants may be used to participate in professionally organised geoscientific conferences or conventions, undertake field work in appropriate areas, visit and work with appropriate international experts, or inspect appropriate mines or other geoscientific features such as type localities. There will be around five grants made available each year of between $2,000 and $5,000.
The application process closes for this year on 31 October and results will be announced in early December, to support geoscientist travel during 2016.
The Australian Academy of Science has already commenced a substantial mail-out to all their academic contacts. We are hoping for a lot of publicity to ensure maximum benefit from this important initiative. For further information please contact me or Leanne Gunther at admin@agc.org.au
Contaminated Land 2016 will be held in Auckland New Zealand, 16-17 March, 2016. The conference is to be presented by the Australasian Land and Groundwater Association.
Abstracts are being sought for 15 minute papers or posters accompanied by 5 minute “elevator pitch” presentations.
Full details regarding the conference themes, abstract formats and submission requirements are available from the ALGA web site.
ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE – 30th September 2015
ALGA will be presenting Bill Deutsch’s Introduction to Groundwater Geochemistry course in Perth and Brisbane during November.
This is an introductory geochemistry course for scientists and engineers working in the field of groundwater site characterization, contamination, and remediation.
It is designed to provide basic information on geochemistry that is necessary to understand natural and contaminated systems and how the composition of groundwater evolves along its flowpath in the subsurface.
Geochemical processes that will be described and discussed include solution complexation reactions, solution/gas interactions, mineral dissolution/precipitation, oxidation/reduction, and adsorption/desorption. Data collection, presentation, and interpretation of results will be discussed.
Examples that illustrate the concepts are described throughout the class. At the end of this one-day class, attendees will have a better understanding of the types of geochemical processes that affect groundwater composition, the importance of collecting sufficient data to understand site-specific geochemical systems, and how to use data to evaluate contaminant occurrence and mobility in the subsurface.
This course is being held in Perth and Brisbane to supplement the Introduction to Organic Groundwater Geochemistry Course.
Perth – 17th November 15 – 9am – 4pm
Brisbane – 25th November 15 9am – 4pm
Visit the ALGA web site for further details.
The Australasian Land and Groundwater Association is running this course throughout Australia and in New Zealand during November.
This is an introductory organic geochemistry course for scientists and engineers working in the field of groundwater site characterization, contamination, and remediation. It is designed to provide basic information on organic contaminants and their fate/transport in aquifer geochemical environments.
Geochemical processes that will be described and discussed include solution/gas interactions leading to volatilization and dissolution of volatile organic compounds, adsorption/desorption of organics, natural attenuation along the groundwater flowpath, and biodegradation processes. Data collection, presentation, and interpretation of results will be discussed. Examples that illustrate the concepts are described throughout the class.
At the end of this one-day class, attendees will ave a better understanding of the types of geochemical processes that affect organic contaminants, the importance of collecting sufficient data to understand site-specific geochemical systems, and the effectiveness of natural attenuation and in situ treatment of organic contaminants.
Presented by Bill Deutsch, Geochemistry Services LLC
Perth – 20th November 15 – 9am – 4pm
Melbourne – 23rd November 15 – 9am – 4pm
Brisbane – 27th November 15 – 9am – 4pm
Visit the ALGA web site for venue and registration information.
Chief Government Geologist – Ref: 5125
This is a rare and exciting opportunity for an experienced Geologist to play a pivotal role and contribute to the future of resourcesprojects in Queensland
About Hunter Executive
Hunter Executive Search Consultants are an Executive Search company specialising in professional placements for the Engineering, Resources, Environment and Water industries across Australia.
About the opportunity
Due to an upcoming retirement, we are currently working in partnership with the Queensland Government – Department of Natural Resources and Mines, to recruit the Chief Government Geologist role within the Geological Survey of Queensland (GSQ).
The purpose of the role is to provide leadership and management to the Geological Survey of Queensland (GSQ) and to promote and develop the resource potential of Mining, Petroleum and Energy projects in QLD to a variety of customers both in Australia and overseas.
The position will report to the Deputy Director General and will play a key role in the future of resources projects in Queensland by supporting the minerals, coal, coal seam gas, petroleum & gas and geothermal exploration industries.
About you
To be successful for this position, you will need a technical background in Geology and significant experience in projects in Queensland ideally across of variety of different areas.
You will be capable of providing strong leadership and management to a team of around 80 geological professionals with support from other senior staff and team leaders in the department.
You will also be able to liaise effectively with a variety of key stakeholders such as Operators, Consultancies, Investors, Technical organisations, Community groups, Ministers and other Government departments in relation to technical and other issues.
What you need:
What’s in it for you?
For more information, a confidential discussion or a full job description, please send your resume to ben@hunterexecutive.com.au (Microsoft Word copy preferred) or call Ben Oakley on 0417 178 220
Friday 11 December from 5:00 pm, Rendezvous Hotel, George Street, Brisbane.
AIG is seeking sponsorship for this years’ event. In these difficult economic times this popular event needs your support more than ever. We would like to stress that sponsorship at any level is a valuable contribution, and that your commitment can help to make this year’s party another success.
Contributions from sponsoring companies enable the AIG to host this event without charge to individuals within our community. Recognition of your contribution will be through the use of your company’s name and logo on material promoting the event. Public acknowledgement will also be given and your company’s logo will be on display throughout the evening. There is also an opportunity for promotional material to be on display.
We will acknowledge three levels of corporate and one individual level of sponsorship, with the amounts shown below excluding GST, for this event:
If you are interested in supporting this event, we ask that you ensure your contribution is received by Friday 13th November. All funds will be directed towards this year’s party and a tax invoice will be issued upon receipt of your commitment to sponsorship.
If you have any queries in regards to this fabulous event, please direct them to Christine Brown
The next AIG Queensland Branch Friday Seminar
Please contact Rod Carlson if you are interested in presenting a paper and mark this date in your diary now. Watch this page for updated seminar programme and registration information.
AIG welcomes the Hon Josh Frydenberg MP as the new Australian Government Minister for Resources, Energy and Northern Australia. AIG looks forward to working with Minister Frydenberg to preserve the pre-eminence of the minerals industry for the Australian economy and its communities.
AIG also acknowledges and thanks the former Minister, the Hon Ian Macfarlane MP, for his stalwart support of the minerals industry in both the Abbott and Howard Governments, as well as being Shadow Minister for Resources during the Gillard and Rudd Governments.
