VANCOUVER - Major Canadian mining companies are getting behind the idea of a new Earth Systems Science (ESS) building at the University of British Columbia. So far they have pledged $20 million toward the private-sector goal of $32.5 million. The donor list so far includes:
Breakwater Resources
Catherine McLeod-Seltzer
Global Copper
Goldcorp
Imperial Metals
Lundin Group
Northern Dynasty Minerals
Northern Peru Copper
Pan American Silver
Ross Beaty
Selwyn Resources
Silver Standard Resources
Silver Wheaton
Western Copper
One of the largest hurdles anticipated by the minerals industry is the growing labour shortage, which will see an estimated 80,000 vacant jobs in Canada over the next decade. Not only will the ESS building help to meet this challenge by educating future generations of highly skilled earth science professionals; it will also serve as a focal point for research and innovation in sustainable mining and mineral exploration practices.
"The ESS building represents an investment in the future of the Canadian and international mineral exploration communities," said Simon Peacock, dean of the faculty of science. "It builds upon the longstanding partnership between the minerals industry and UBC. Housing high-tech research labs, lecture halls, teaching and breakout rooms and a shared space, the ESS building will provide undergraduate and graduate students a world-class education in the earth sciences."
Construction is to begin on the new $75-million building in 2009. It will house the university's earth and ocean sciences department beginning in 2011. For further information, please visit www.Science.UBC.ca/essb.
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