SE Europe Geoscience Foundation

Speech

The SE Europe Geoscience Foundation & Industry Commitment to Geoscience Education

Delivered:  At University of Mining and Geology “St Ivan Rilski” Sofia, Bulgaria, October 20, 2005

Director of the University of Mining and Geology “St Ivan Rilski” distinguished colleagues and of students. 

It is a  great honour to be here today to participate in the official University of Mining & Geology opening of the academic year and annual conference.

I wish to discuss with you today the role of science in society, the dramatic changes in the societal view of our profession and reasons for that change and lastly as Chairman of the SE Europe Geoscience Foundation I wish explain our role in Geoscience education.

Lets me first make a very general comment:  Science is THE driving force in modern society.    Consequently as science is so important to our societies we must educate our young in the simplicities, complexities, joy of experiment and discovery and the sheer beauty of science.    These young students in front of us today are not only a source of new scientists but as citizens need to be able to incorporate a scientific perspective into their lives. 

Within this context it is interesting o contemplate the role of science and technology in society over the last few hundred years as this explains much about the changing societal view of our profession.  In the 19^th century with almost religious zeal with science and technology we effectively transformed our landscapes into a human-built world.  This second creation as it were did not culminate into the second Eden as some had anticipated but instead into  a sometimes less than attractive industrial revolution.  During and after the Second World War science, industry and technology became vastly more complex the result of an extended period where system and control were paramount.  By the last quarter of the 20^th century the world was beginning to understand the Janus aface of science and technology -  with benefit there came occasionally unacceptable impact.    

Now to the current century and today.  We have in the last 20 years seen the advent of the digital world.  While some commentators would argue that this is the most profound scientific and technological change seen in human history – I would disagree.  This digital age is build on the shoulders of the previous innovations and creative skills of scientists and engineers.  The digital “revolution” while having widespread impact is no less significant if not less so than the advent of the steam engine, electric light or indeed the telephone. 

All this speaks of enormous change – and a realization that the “normal” accidents of industry and technology and no longer acceptable.

We now find the geological sciences in a wholly different environment to that of only a few decades ago. Our science and the mining industry has become more complex  -  more inter-disciplinary and bound by a far higher standard of environmental performance and compliance than ever before.  But our industry is rising to the challenge  -  no only embracing world best practice -  but defining that practice.

These changes underline the important role of geoscience education toady.  In 2003 when I first arrived in Sofia it was apparent that Geoscience education in SE Europe afaced challenging times squeezed as it were by declining professional opportunities in an industry which had seen a decade of declining prices and under-investment and inadequate government funds for science education.  We decided to do something about this in a modest way and built a structure which would enhance geoscience education in the region.  We established the SE Europe Geoscience Foundation.  We held our first conference in May 2004 and sponsored the second on the Black Sea coast earlier this month.  The conferences play an important role – they bring together companies, academics and students in a collaborative atmosphere. 

With the partnership and funding of  twelve local and international companies we are now able to offer research grants for PhD and MSc students in the 2006 academic year.  We are seeking students from academic institutions throughout SE Europe and invite you to participate.  These grants are specifically designed so that students can enhance their research activities and hopeful this will result in “discovery”.  We want to stand beside you when you go where no scientist has gone before -  this is the real joy of science.

So again we ask you to participate -  go to the Foundation website at www.see-geosceicene.org and submit an application.

Thank you for this opportunity.

John C. Menzies

Chairman

A note about the SEEGF for editors.

The SEEGF is a multi company educational initiative and is a Bulgarian not-for-profit foundation.   The sponsoring companies are:

Premium-Core Sponsors

Dundee Precious Metals Inc

EurOmax Resources Limited

European Nickel PLC

Gabrielle Resources Ltd

Gold Sponsors

Carpathian Gold Inc.

Ivanhoe Hereward Ltd

Phelps Dodge Inc.

Silver Sponsors

ALS Chemex

Drilling Services Bulgaria EOOD

Eurasian Minerals Ltd

GEOPS Balkan Mining Services Ltd

Directors of the Foundation

John Menzies – Chairman

Kamen Bogdanov

Strashimir Strashimirov

Gary O’Connor

Contacts:

Ms Nevena Ivanova

Level 4, 2a Saborna Street

SOFIA, 1000 BULGARIA

Tel:  +359 2 986 9820 Fax: + 1 604 608 3344

Email seee.conference@cmi-capital.com

Website:  www.see-geoscience.org