Foundations

University education in Mining and Metallurgical Engineering commenced at The University of Queensland in 1950. From the outset, this activity was notable for two features:

• A very close association with the industry, initially in Queensland, and progressively throughout Australia and internationally, and

• A very strong focus on research and particularly on postgraduate research.

These characteristics provided the base for the establishment of the Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre in 1970. From humble beginnings, the JKMRC grew over its first 15-20 years to become an internationally recognised mineral and mining research and postgraduate training Centre.

The JKMRC approach of industry funding, postgraduate training and a commitment to effective transfer of research outcomes to the industry became the blueprint for the establishment of three new specialist research Centres through the 1990’s: the WH Byran Mining Geology Research Centre; the Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation and the Minerals Industry Safety and Health Centre.

As 2000 approached, the stage was set to expand minerals related research within The University of Queensland.

Establishment of the Sustainable Minerals Institute

A new wave of thinking swept through the international minerals industry in the late 1990’s and the focus of that thinking was the concept of Sustainable Development. In early 2000, over 20 international mining companies and other commercial and non-commercial sponsors, working through the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, commissioned the Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development Project. The project aimed to examine the role of the minerals sector in contributing to Sustainable Development.

Quite independently, a proposal was developed within The University of Queensland during 1999 and early 2000 for submission to the Queensland State Government. The focus of this proposal was to expand the existing minerals related research capacity within the University through new activities which would address the wider social and sustainability challenges facing the international industry. To a reasonable degree, the proposal anticipated some of the outcomes of the MMSD Project.

In mid 2000, the Queensland State Government announced support for the University proposal through an award of $10million. As a result, the Sustainable Minerals Institute was established in early 2001. At the outset, SMI consisted of four Centres:

• Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre
• WH Bryan Mining Geology Research Centre
• Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation
• Minerals Industry Safety and Health Centre

The subsequent development of SMI is described in SMI Today.