Letter to the editor: Surge in geo students cramps U of T budget

I am writing to bring to the attention of the mining community the problems that we are having fulfilling the growing demand for young geologists for the next generation of exploration.

Starting in January I have been devoting most of my time to helping resolve a small part of the problem by teaching introductory geology to first and second year students at University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM, previously known as Erindale).

I just finished giving a first year course to 220 students on “geology and public issues,” covering everything from climate change to the possible shortage of new mineral resources sometime down the road if there is not more (and successful) exploration undertaken.

Last term I taught a similar class in general geology (called Planet Earth) and really pitched the opportunities in geology to the many students who come to university with no idea what they want to do with their lives.

Partly as a result, as well as the other factors increasing the awareness of the growing demand for geologists, the second year class enrollment has gone up from a typical 10-15 students to an entry group this coming semester of almost 50 students. Last summer I managed to get most of the better students (and even some of the not so good ones) jobs working in exploration.

I guess the word may have gotten around that taking my courses could lead to a good summer job (i.e., well paying) at least if nothing more.

As last spring, I am teaching a second year course starting in January in structural geology and geological mapping, with heavy emphasis on field techniques, in order to give the students a grounding in the practicalities which would hopefully make them more suitable as potential employees to exploration companies, etc.

In addition, this spring I will be teaching a parallel course in rock forming processes, again emphasizing their ability to be able to recognize rocks in the field, in core, etc.

The reason for contacting the ‘Miner is that I have almost no resources available to me to teach these classes, especially at these far larger enrollments.

The lack of jobs led to the well known decline in interest in taking geology which in turn led to a major lack of investment in items such as decent sample suites and even things as basic as student microscopes.

Whereas one might think that supplying such basic teaching tools was the responsibility of the university, or a senior level of government, nothing could be further from the truth.

The universities are so strapped for funds, and have such increasing demands placed on them — the old grade 13 has become first year at university with greatly increased enrollments but no increased financial resources, and even items such as the new privacy act has caused all sorts of complications and resulting increasing in bureaucratic man-power — that there is no money left for items such as basic teaching equipment.

Being me I kicked up a fuss over the lack of resources (I am happy to contribute my time for almost nothing, but I cannot afford to provide the tools as well!) and as a result I have at least got the university to recognize that there is a need which they cannot fulfill.

I have also produced a support document that has gone out with letters from senior people at UTM to various mining companies, as well as other organizations such as the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum, in the way of a begging letter for money.

One idea that I have heard of, but know little about, is people donating shares to a charity (which UTM is) and getting an extra tax benefit from their charitable contribution.

With the New Year fast approaching, the opportunity for this sort of thing to be attractive is limited, although the Department would happily take people’s money or shares at any time of the year.

In terms of improving the physical laboratory, our needs include: 30 Nikon E200 petrographic microscopes ($242,000); 15 Leica EZ4 stereo microscopes ($22,000); and teaching samples ($30,000).

We could also use about $300,000 in endowments, with the investment income directed towards field trips and equipment maintenance.Thank you for helping us publicize our need.

Terry Bottrill

Principal of Bottrill Geological Services

Oakville, ON