The Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI) has appointed a new director for its Rio Tinto Centre for Underground Mine Construction (RTC-UMC) in Sudbury.
Dr. Matthew Pierce, a principal engineer with U.S.-based Itasca Consulting Group Inc., has taken on the role of director. Serving in the role of associate director is Dr. Erik Eberhardt, who is currently the director of the geological engineering department and a professor in rock mechanics and rock engineering the University of British Columbia. Both will continue their involvement with their current employers.
Pierce replaces Dr. Peter Kaiser, the centre’s founding director, who will remain on hand at the centre during a transition period before returning to Laurentian University as chair for rock mechanics and ground control.
“Rio Tinto’s significant investment in RTC-UMC continues to put Canada on the map for innovation in underground mining,” Douglas Morrison, CEMI’s president and CEO, said in a statement.
“I would like to applaud the contribution of Dr. Peter Kaiser as founding director of the RTC-UMC and thank Rio Tinto for their continued support of CEMI in helping to create innovative solutions to some of the most challenging underground mining issues. We look forward to advancing the RTC-UMC as it heads into its next phase.”
Created in 2010 to complement Rio Tinto’s Australia and U.K. research facilities, the centre focuses on research and technology development in the area of rapid mine construction, with an emphasis on developing efficient and effective ground-control measures.
