UQ students advance their mining skills

The University of Queensland students are gaining advanced skills in preparation for jobs in the booming mining sector, thanks to the University’s Newcrest Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Laboratory.

Established last year, the Newcrest HVAC lab, provides engineering educators better opportunities to design and teach courses that develop specialised mining skills and knowledge in the application of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics and heat transfer in various heating and cooling processes.

UQ’s School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering senior lecturer Dr Saiied Aminossadati said Newcrest Mining’s support of the laboratory was making an important contribution to the development of industry-aware graduates capable of leading the nation’s resources sector.

“In the past year, 300 mining and mechanical engineering students have attended classes in this laboratory,” Dr Aminossadati said.

“They conducted experiments on psychrometry, air ventilation and refrigeration with a high level of accuracy using the advanced equipment and instrumentations.”

UQ Graduate Blake Callinan said the practical knowledge he gained using the laboratory had provided insights into ventilation management, which helped him secure a graduate position within the underground metalliferous sector.

“I was lucky enough to be a member of the first cohort to use the Newcrest sponsored HVAC laboratory,” Mr Callinan said.

“This laboratory provides an interactive approach to enable deeper understanding of mine ventilation systems and psychrometry of the mining environment.

“I would like to thank Newcrest for their immense efforts in supporting the students of The University of Queensland through the provision of world-leading teaching facilities, ensuring top quality graduates for the future.”

In addition to providing $270,000 in funding for the HVAC laboratory, Newcrest have also committed $480,000 in scholarships support to UQ engineering students over the next five years.

Furthermore, Newcrest will provide an extra $250,000 over the next 10 years to be used for mining engineering-related research projects.

Media: Madelene Flanagan (m.flanagan@uq.edu.au or +61 7 3365 8525)