A warm welcome to the International Biohydrometallurgy Symposium in Perth

The 24th International Biohydrometallurgy Symposium 2022 is being held this week at the Rendezvous Hotel, Scarborough Beach, Perth, Australia, and also online. It is hosted by Australia’s National Science Research Agency, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), and the Local Organising Committee includes members from CSIRO and Curtin University. It is sponsored by Newmont and Newcrest Mining. MEI, as media partner, is represented at the conference by Amanda Wills, who will be sending daily summaries. 

Below is Amanda's summary of the Sunday afternoon proceedings:

Events began yesterday, with a pre-conference course on Mining Biotechnology presented by researchers from CSIRO and Curtin University, with registration opening today.

After registering this evening, I proceeded to the plenary opening session, chaired by Elizabeth Watkin (Curtin University) and Anna Kaksonen (CSIRO, Australia).

Elizabeth began the proceedings by introducing us to Simon Forrest and Michael Spratt. Simon is a Whadjuk Ballardong Noongar elder, and he performed the Welcome to Country - a traditional ceremony that has been practiced in Aboriginal culture for thousands of years. Michael accompanied him on the didgeridoo. Ballardong refers to the Noongar language or dialectal group north-east of Perth (the Noongar language group in the Perth area is called Whadjuk).

Next up was the Welcome Address from Anna, who informed us that there are 170 delegates, 108 in person and 62 virtual, from 30 different countries. The book of abstracts contains 75 oral and 71 poster presentations.

Elizabeth then introduced Prof Sue Harrison, Director of the Center for Bioprocess Engineering Research (CeBER) at the University of Cape Town, who presented the Honorary Presentation, "Pivoting expertise in biohydrometallurgy to enhance sustainable beneficiation of mineral resources through homing in on bio-based solutions".

Sue talked us through how expertise in biohydrometallurgy for metal extraction in acidophilic leaching environments has been pivoting to extend its range to metal extraction from varied resources beyond mined virgin sulfidic mineral ores. She also described how this expertise is being expanded to augment nature-based processes for the delivery of sustainable beneficiation of mineral resources and to reverse environmental damage of mining practices of the past.

Sue went on to talk about the potential to both re-purpose our learnings into new applications alongside re-purposing wastes to raw materials for value creation, and explored approaches that bring together microbiology, molecular biology, (bio)chemistry, mineralogy and process engineering towards an integrated picture in which metal extraction from virgin resources provides resilient regional development with minimized legacy while the closing of material cycles plots a route towards the green economy. 

Following Sue's presentation, we gathered for the Welcome Reception, which was sponsored by The Institute for Geoscience Research (TIGeR) at Curtin University, where wine and canapes were served and we were able to catch up with friends new and old. Below is a selection of photos from the evening.

MEI Biomining '23 consultants Sue Harrison, and Chris Bryan, of BRGM, France

Cristian-Felipe Jorquera-Roman (TU Bergakadamie Freiberg, Germany), Sabrina Hendrich (TU Bergakadamie Freiberg, Germany), Mario Vera (Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Chile) and Klemens Kremser (University of Natural Resources and Life Science Vienna, Austria)

Frank Roberto (Newmont, USA) and Elizabeth Watkin (Curtin University, Australia)

Mital Vivek Chakankar & Sabine Kutschker, of HZDR, Germany)

Jonovan Van Yken (CSIRO, Australia), Sue Harrison
and Nathan Van Wyk (Linnaeus University, Sweden)