Innovation

Issue No. 41 - June/July 2008

Mining scientist profits by ‘bubble reputation’

Physical chemist John Ralston is an unassuming man of dry humour - but that’s not why giant international miner BHP Billiton really likes his style.

John set up the Ian Wark Research Institute in 1994 as an engineering research facility and the IWRI’s work has revolutionised ore extraction techniques.

At a recent SA Great luncheon to honour John as 2007 South Australian of the Year and Scientist of the Year, he predicted the resource development industry is at a “tipping point”, a signal point of history with the next 15 years to bring “truly magnificent” development in SA - and a key time to make the most of SA’s reputation for excellence in his field.

“All we need to do is make sure the ship goes in the right direction,” John says, “and we need more young people to help us power the industry.”

IWRI is based in UniSA at Technology Park, Mawson Lakes. It is the Australian Research Council’s special research centre for particle and mate...

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