THUNDER BAY - Mining industry research within the region was given a philanthropic boost Thursday.
Lakehead University chancellor Derek Burney and his wife, Joan, held a news conference announcing the donation to the university’s Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Mining and Exploration.
“There are a lot of ideas about mining in Northwestern Ontario, but going from the idea to the reality is a bit of a problem,” Burney said. “We probably hope that this research will provide a bridge between the idea, the concept and the actuality.”
The pair donated $150,000 as part of the Derek and Joan Burney Postdoctoral Fellowship. The money will be put toward research for responsible mining development in Northern Ontario.
Burney said mining development is vital to the future and prosperity of the region.
“We also hope that it’ll inspire others to make donations of that kind to the university,” he said.
Burney and his wife consulted with the mining centre’s director Pete Hollings in order to define a fellowship that would promote research.
The fellowship will fund a three-year bridging position for a researcher between their PhD and a faculty position, according to a press release. It is also affiliated with Lakehead’s Department of Economics within the Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies.
Joan Burney added that “it’s a privilege to be able to help in this.”
