9 November 2005
Issues surrounding petroleum, minerals and environmental geoscience will be bought to the fore at a conference hosted by Monash's school of Geosciences today Wednesday, November 9th.
Academics and representatives from major petroleum companies, mining and mineral exploration companies, environmental consultants, and Victorian Government agencies will speak at the forum.
Director of the Victorian Institute of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Monash Professor Reid Keays said key research questions identified by industry representatives would be discussed at the conference.
He said the forum would showcase applied geoscience research at Monash and the University of Melbourne, which together represent the greatest concentration of geoscience researchers, students, and facilities in Australia.
Associate Professor Ian Cartwright, head of Monash University's School of Geosciences, said the conference would identify gaps in knowledge that could be solved by well-focused research projects involving collaboration between industry, government, and university researchers.
The morning session will identify research problems, challenges and opportunities as recognised by industry, as well as overviews of current applied research projects.
Exploration research funding options will be discussed at afternoon workshop sessions.
Professor Keays said the conference provided a great forum for identifying and developing programs between industry, government and academia.
"It will help to keep Monash Geoscience School at the forefront of earth sciences research in Australia," he said.
For further information contact Professor Reid Keays on +61 3 9905 4072 or Media Communications, on +61 3 9905 9314.
| 
