JOHN A. MEECH
Professor of Mining Engineering and Director of CERM3
B.Eng. in Metallurgical Engineering at McGill University
M.Sc. (Eng.) in Mining Engineering at Queen's University
Ph.D. in Mineral Processing at Queen's University
Background
A graduate of McGill University and Queen's University, Dr. Meech spent 4 years in Zambia with Roan Consolidated Mines Ltd working on R&D projects in milling and smelting. In 1974, he joined the Mining Department at Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario where he conducted research on flotation; processing copper and gold ores; iron ore beneficiation; environmental control and simulation modeling for process control. This last topic has evolved into a keen interest in the use and development of Industrial Expert Systems
Dr. Meech was one of the principal organizers of IPMM'97 (Intelligent Processing and Manufacturing of Materials) which was held in July, 1997 in Gold Coast, Australia. Since then, the conference has been held biannually in cities around the globe. Coming up in August 2007 is the Sixth International Conference on Intelligent Processing and Manufacturing of Materials, slated to be held in Salerno, Italy. IPMM has grown into an international organization with about 500 members from over 40 countries -- all with a common interest in applying intelligent methods in the processing and manufacturing of materials.
Dr. Meech joined the Department of Mining and Mineral Process Engineering at the University of British Columbia in 1989, where he has continued his work on AI applications. His teaching and professional activities include process control, unit processes and flotation, environmental protection and expert systems. He has authored over 100 technical publications on mineral processing and expert systems including several electronic Hypertext documents on subjects that include Artificial Intelligence , Mineral Processing, Hg Pollution in the Amazon, Mining Method Selection, Mineral Specimen Identification and Quality Problems in Continuous Casting of Steel .
This latter application was conducted in close collaboration with Dr. Indira Samasekera and Dr. J. Keith Brimacombe under the sponsorship of five Canadian companies and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). The system has evolved from an off-line consultative system to an on-line real-time supervisory and control data acquisition system. Installations of the SMARTmould and SMARTreheat furnace include Alta Steel in Edmonton, Alberta and Manitoba Rolling Mills in Selkirk, Manitoba.
Dr. Meech is also the director of CERM3 in the Department of Mining Engineering. CERM3 is the Centre for Environmental Research in Minerals, Metals, and Materials. The centre consists of over 30 faculty researchers that include some of Canada's top environmental scientists and engineers working together to address the critical technical challenges in environmental and social issues faced by the Mining Industry as it enter the 21st Century. These researchers are specifically working on several new methodologies to mine more effectively and efficiently with regard to economic, technical, social and environmental concerns. The Centre has enjoyed considerable success over the past six years since its inception in 2000.
Dr. Meech also enjoys visiting elementary and secondary schools to talk with students about careers in the Mining industry. During these occasions, he distributes a computer game developed at U.B.C., called DRILLER , which allows young children to experience the excitement of exploring for minerals in Western Canada and some South American countries. The game has proven to be of considerable interest to youngsters and helps them to understand some of the intricate workings of the mining industry while having fun.
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Affiliations
Dr. Meech is a Member of the UBC Centre for Metallurgical Process Engineering, a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum, a Member of the Canadian Mineral Processors, and is active with the IEEE Computer Society. He is a Registered Professional Engineer in the Province of British Columbia.
Notable accomplishments:
2006 - prepared a major proposal to the Canada Foundation for Innovation
CFI Expert Committee Power Point Presentation
2005 - Selected to the Review Committee, Sustainable Minerals Institute, University of Queensland, Australia
2004 - Selected to the Review Committee, MINTEK, Johannesburg, RSA
2004 - Best Paper Award, Geothermal Resources Council (with Mory Ghomshei)
2001 - Williams Prize, Institute of Materials, UK (with I. Samarasekera)
2000 - CIM Distinguished Lecturer
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More....
See the love of Dr. Meech's life here .
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