Biography
Dr. Marcello Veiga has worked as a metallurgical engineer and environmental geochemist for mining and consulting companies in Brazil, Canada, US, Venezuela, Chile and Peru. He has worked extensively on environmental and social issues related to mining. As an associate professor of the Norman B. Keevil Institute of Mining Engineering at the University of British Columbia, since 1997, his research and teaching topics are focused on different topics that lead to improve the image of mining and contribute for sustainable mining communities.
From 2002 to 2008, he has worked as an expert and Chief Technical Advisor of the GEF/UNDP/UNIDO Global Mercury Project for UNIDO – United Nations Industrial Development Organization, in Vienna. This includes the implementation of Environmental and Health Assessment of mercury pollution in artisanal gold mining in Asia, Africa and South America. The project also included the implementation of procedures to reduce mercury emissions and local fabrication of pieces of equipment to reduce exposure of miners to mercury vapors and increase gold recovery.
My goal as an academic is to generate mining engineers who understand that applying ethical principles while creating wealth for society will change the image of mining and make a positive difference to local communities.
Awards
- Killam Teaching Prize (UBC best teacher), 2012
- Top 25 Canadian Immigrant, 2009
- CIM – Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum – Distinguished Lecturer, 2002
- CIM – Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum – Distinguished Lecturer, 2003
- CIM – Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum – winner of the graduate student contest with the work:, February 1994
- George E. Winkler Memorial Scholarship, in recognition of academic achievements, December 1993
Education
- University of British Columbia, 1994, Mining and Mineral Process Engineering, Ph.D.
- Federal Fluminense University, 1984, Environmental Geochemistry, M.Sc.
- Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, 1977, Metallurgical Engineering, B.Eng.