Awards and Achievements

Professor Peter Kaiser from Laurentian University, who is working collaboratively with U of T Lassonde Institute of Mining researchers John Hadjigeorgiou (MinE), Director of the Lassonde Institute of Mining, Paul Young (CivE), Vice-President, Research and Bernd Milkereit (Geo), Tech Chair of Exploration Geophysics, along with a team of other mining experts, were awarded $2,235,370 to develop wireless underground systems to help investors and engineers process minerals with increased speed and safety.

The tri-institutional research program entitled "Smart Underground Monitoring and Integrated Technologies (SUMIT) for Deep Mining" will involve investigators from Laurentian University, University of Toronto and Queen's University.  The project is sponsored by industrial partners of the Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI), namely Rio Tinto, Vale and Xstrata Nickel.

Professor John Hadjigeorgiou was elected to the Council of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) in May 2011.

Professor John Hadjigeorgiou was elected as Chair of the Rock Engineering Society (RES) at its Annual General Meeting in Montreal on May 22, 2011.

Professor Torstein Utigard (MSE) , was elected Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Mining at the CIM Annual General Meeting in Montreal in May 2011. 

Professor John Hadjigeorgiou was the international keynote speaker at "Bergmekanikdag 2011", the annual showcase of Swedish Rock Engineering Research held in Stockholm in March 2011. Professor's Hadjigeorgiou talk was on "Rock Characterization: From Empiricism to Synthetic Rock Mass."

Professor Mansoor Barati (MSE)  received a medal in the Young Engineer category from Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE) and Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) in November 2010.  Professor Barati's research is focused on high temperature materials processing; specifically novel and advanced processes for extracting and refining metals and alloys with high performance at low cost. His work has the potential to create innovative solutions for energy efficiency, higher quality materials and environmentally responsible materials processing.

Professor John Harrison was elected a Fellow of the Geological Society of London on September 29, 2010.

Professor Murray Grabinsky delivered a keynote address at the 13th Annual International Seminar on Paste and Thickened Tailings in Toronto, Canada, May 3-6, 2010. www.paste2010.com

Professor Bibhu Mohanty delivered a Keynote address on Sympathetic Pressures and Explosives and Blasting Performance at the 9th International Symposium on Rock Fragmentation, September 13-17, 2009, Granada, Spain. www.fragblast.org

At the Canadian Institute of Mining Annual General Meeting in 2008, Professor Hadjigeorgiou was awarded the Rock Mechanics Award from in recognition of significant and lasting contributions to the advancement of rock mechanics in Canada.

Professor Bawden was inducted to the Canadian Academy of Engineering at the Academy’s 2009 Annual General Meeting in Calgary. Professor Bawden was cited for his work as “….an educator, researcher and practitioner in applied rock engineering for the mining and civil engineering communities in Canada and internationally. His former students hold leading positions in mining and consulting engineering firms in Canada and abroad. Professor Bawden's research work has been focused primarily on the design and support of large underground excavations in rock primarily in the mining sector. Mining is a critical component of the Canadian economy. Professor Bawden's work has had, and continues to have, a direct and positive impact on mine productivity, profitability and safety. He has published his research work broadly and has developed new tools that are used by mines around the world to enhance mine safety and productivity.