Laurentian University today congratulated two teams of students from the Bharti School of Engineering for winning top honours at a major mining competition in Toronto. The teams were awarded first and second place at the Ontario Mining Association’s Mined Open Innovation Challenge.
During the competition, teams of students were asked to draw up plans to expand operations at a mining site where new ore deposits had been discovered. The challenge was to tap into the new, deeper resources using innovative technologies and practices, without negatively affecting health, safety, the environment, and a nearby community. The finalists presented their proposals to a group of judges made up of mining industry executives, as well as a live audience.
The first place prize of $15,000 was awarded to Laurentian students Joshua Fortes, Alex MacInnes, Adam Grinbergs, Liam Dunn, Muhammad Syed, and Justin So. Team leader Joshua Fortes was overjoyed with the victory saying, “This was a real group effort. We believe our proposal will be a great benefit to the mining industry and the communities located around mining facilities. We are humbled and honoured to have our plan chosen by the judges. I also want to congratulate all of the teams for their hard work and creative solutions.”
The second place prize of $10,000 was granted to another group of Laurentian students. The proposal presented by Sarah Bulanda, Peter Gazaes, and Patrick Lamontagne also won the Audience Choice Award at the competition, garnering the team an additional $5,000 in prize money.
The Mined Open Innovation Challenge aims to drive enhanced mining industry performance in health and safety, environmental protection, energy efficiency, and productivity. Laurentian University is a proud partner in this Challenge, along with the Ontario Mining Association and the mining/engineering schools at the University of Toronto, and Queen’s.
“I am so proud of all our award winning students,” said Dr. Osman Abou-Rabia, Laurentian’s Dean of Science, Engineering, and Architecture. “Their success at the Mined Open Innovation Challenge is a credit to the team members’ creativity, ingenuity, and collaborative spirit. They truly represent the qualities and talents that the Bharti School of Engineering continues to foster and develop.
About Laurentian University
Laurentian University offers an outstanding university experience in English and French, with a comprehensive approach to Indigenous education. Laurentian University, situated on the traditional territory of the Anishinabe peoples of Atikameksheng First Nation, prepares students as agents of change and empowers them to create innovative responses to local and global challenges. Laurentian’s students benefit from small class sizes and exceptional post-graduation employment rates. With nine Canada Research Chairs and nineteen research centres, Laurentian is a recognized leader in its specialized areas of research strength, which include mining innovation and exploration, stressed watershed systems, particle astrophysics and rural and northern children’s health.