Major honours to Sue Harrison and Frank Roberto

Election to the National Academy of Engineering is among the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer.  Academy membership honours those who have made outstanding contributions to engineering research, practice, or education, so we were delighted to hear that two of MEI's major contributors to our Biomining conferences have received this ultimate accolade.

Prof. Sue Harrison, of the University of Cape Town, is one of MEI's consultants to the Biomining series, and has attended every conference in the series since Biotech '96 in Falmouth (MEI Blog 26 March 2016). She also presented a keynote lecture at Biohydromet '18 in Namibia, and is very much involved with MEI's Sustainable Minerals conferences. She was one of 18 non-American members elected to the Academy for her leadership in biochemical engineering and its application to mining and environmental remediation.

Sue with MEI's Jon Wills and Prof. Tjama Tjivikua,
Vice-Chancellor of the Namibia University of Technology, at Biohydromet '18

Sue with UCT colleagues at Biohydromet '16

Dr. Frank Roberto, of Newmont Mining Corporation, USA, a sponsor of Biomining '21, was elected to the Academy for advancing biotechnical applications for environmentally responsible mine production. Frank has been a regular contributor to the Biomining series, and presented a keynote lecture at Biohydromet '16 (MEI Blog 21 December 2015).

Frank with Jon Wills at Biohydromet 16

 Frank relaxing at Falmouth's Chain Locker after his keynote lecture

Many congratulations Sue and Frank. We look forward to seeing you both in Falmouth next year at Biomining '21 and Sustainable Minerals '21.

@barrywills