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Society of Economic Geology (SEG) UWA Student Chapter


SEG's purpose as a student chapter is to promote economic geology and provide opportunities for students to gain technical
experience and training directly related to economic geology. A decrease in industry funding, in response to falling
commodities prices, has seen some scaling back of the Chapter's operations over recent years. Despite this, 2014 was an
active year for the SEG chapter, including numerous low-cost educational, social and career development events.
Internationally renowned guest speakers were organised for fortnightly presentations, followed by informal Q&A, food and
drinks- exposing students to current research in the field of economic geology. The development of professional skills was
promoted by training courses organised by the SEG Student Chapter, introducing students to specialised software commonly
used in economic geology.
Developing strong relationships between industry and students is an important objective of the SEG and in the last year the
Chapter helped fund and organise a Student-Industry night, giving industry representatives an opportunity to speak to
students about their operations, and students a chance to network.
The SEG student chapter also plays a large role in supporting new, and international postgraduate students within the
department through social events which, in the last year, has included regular BBQs for staff and students.
It is a special interest of the SEG to provide students with opportunties to undertake fieldwork, promoting safe field practices
and developing professional field skills. Last year, the Chapter took a group of undergraduate and postgraduate students to a
series of rare-earth mineral deposits in the Murchison Terrane (co-organised with the Woolnough Society).

In 2015 the SEG UWA Chapter intends to continue promoting economic geology to students. As the Annual SEG
conference will be held in Australia this year, the Chapter hopes to facilitate interaction with numerous world class
researchers throughout the seminar series. The chapter will also continue to provide professional development opportunities
for students, with plans for a series of technical and computer-based training courses.
Integration and support of new and international students will remain at the top of the Chapters agenda,
encouraged by regular BBQs and opportunities for informal interaction of staff and students.
As many of our student members have been unable to secure Vacation Work in recent years, a new SEG Chapter
initiative will see the beginning of a Work Experience Program for geology students. The Chapter is already in the process
of compiling a database of small, industry focused projects which can be undertaken by student volunteers, providing an
opportunity to gain practical skills (eg. Core logging, data management) and much needed industry experience.
With help of industry funding, the Chapter also hopes to run two field trips in 2015, including visits to world class deposits in
both the Eastern Goldfields and the Pilbara. For many of our international student members, these trips will be their first
exposure to economic geology in Australia and an invaluable learning experiences. The trips will provide a safe
environment for these students to learn about the realities of fieldwork in Australia, before they undertake their own. This
year, the Chapter also plans collaborate with the not-for-profit organisaion Teach Learn Grow to incorporate visits to
regional schools into these field trips, with the aim of promoting science and tertiary education to young students.

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