Strengthening the Mining Industry through
collaboration with Universities

Interview with Samuel Frimpong, Professor and Chair of the Department of Mining and Nuclear Engineering at the Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T).

In today's economic climate, GoodOil continues to ask, "What are mining experts' concerns, and what is their focus?" GoodOil recently had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Frimpong of Missouri S&T, to answer these questions from a University leader's perspective.

GoodOil: What are some of your previous experiences that helped to prepare you for your current position?
SF: Prior to my current position, I obtained between 15 and 20 years of professional experience in research, teaching and consulting at Universities in Canada, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Ghana.  I also worked as an Underground Miner at the Tarkwa Goldfields Ltd. in Ghana, Mining Engineer-Intern at Ashanti Goldfields, Ghana National Manganese Corp., and Agri-Petco of Ghana and as Research Engineer at the State Gold Mining Corp.

Samuel Frimpong, PhD, PEng

Professor and Chair, Mining
and Nuclear Engineering

Robert H. Quenon Endowed Chair

GoodOil: Can you tell us a little about your teaching experience?
SF: I have taught several undergraduate and graduate courses in Mining Engineering as Professor at Missouri S&T, Professor and Associate Professor at the University of Alberta (UofA), Assistant Professor at the Technical University of Nova Scotia (TUNS), Sessional Lecturer and Graduate Teaching Assistant at UofA.  I have also taught over 60 short courses to industries in Algeria, China, Columbia, Ghana, India, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, Sudan, Thailand, Trinidad Tobago, Tunisia and Vietnam.  Since 2000, I have held the Canadian Petroleum Institute's Distinguished Lecturer Title.  In addition, I have had the honor of graduating several students for industry and academia, including 12 PhD and 15 MS students, and developed and trained five Post-Doctoral Fellows along with four Associate Research Scientists.

GoodOil: Why did you decide to go into this industry in the first place?
SF: In August 1980, two weeks before I entered university to undertake an engineering degree, my cousin, who is a Mine Manager for a hard rock mine, invited me to visit his mine. After visiting him for one week, I fell in love with the huge excavations and machinery underground. I decided to work there for one year to ensure that it was an industry I would like to invest the rest of my career in. Thus began my adventure into the world of mining engineering.  My passion after graduation with the B.S. degree was to become an underground mine manager but destiny changed my course from industry into academia with a UNESCO M.S. Fellowship in 1986 and CIDA PhD scholarship in 1989.

GoodOil: You have spent a significant portion of your career doing research and consulting.  Can you give us a little background to that?
SF: My earliest research experience came from my Post-graduate Diploma candidacy in Mining Engineering at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) in Ghana. This introduction to research was deepened during the M.S. graduate candidacy at the University of Zambia (UNZA), my position as a Research Associate at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ), Graduate Research Assistant and Post-Doctoral Fellow at UofA, and faculty positions at Missouri S&T, UofA and TUNS.  My current research areas include surface mining engineering, excavation engineering and machine health, extra heavy oil extraction engineering, safety and health engineering and stochastic modeling and risks simulation.  Several major research initiatives have been carried out in these areas with over $8 million funding from a portfolio of national and international funding sources.  The results of these research initiatives include over 200 refereed journal and conference publications, 100 technical reports, dissertations and funding proposals, and over 120 technical presentations to several audiences. 

GoodOil: How do you ensure that the research that's done at the University level is relevant to the mining industry?
SF: My research areas cover both fundamental and applied research initiatives.  The latter focuses on relevant industry problems that require advanced research initiatives to provide solutions.  These applied research initiatives are selected based on interactions with industry, via short courses to industry, conferences, workshops and seminars with industry involvement.  Funding for these projects is provided by industry and the execution process, periodic reporting and overall administration of these industry-funded projects are carried out with industry involvement.  These processes ensure that the research initiatives are relevant and with a very high probability that the results will be used for solving industry problems.

GoodOil: Can you expand a little on your industry experience?
SF: From 1980 to 1981, I worked as an Underground Miner before beginning my university education.  This opportunity introduced me to the world of underground hard rock mining.  During my university education, I also worked as Mining Engineer-Intern for one hard rock underground gold mine, one surface hard rock manganese mine and one offshore crude oil production and storage facility in Ghana.  After graduating with the B.S. degree, I worked as a Research Engineer for the State Gold Mining Corporation.  In 1996, I established SAF Mining Consulting for solving mining and petroleum industry problems.  As President of this company, I consult and transfer technologies into mining and petroleum companies in several countries around the world. 

GoodOil: How can industry leaders and university leaders work together more closely?
SF: The University is a warehouse of knowledge; it pursues knowledge and ideas by advancing research frontiers.  Industry uses technologies based on current knowledge to produce goods and services that benefit society.  By working together, universities and industries can advance mutual interests and serve their communities.  These two organizations can work together through collaborative research opportunities where each entity provides talent and resources to solve problems for a desired cause.  They can also work together to produce highly qualified graduates via industry internships, industry serving as technical consultants to capstone design courses, and guest lectureships by industry.  University personnel can also serve as consultants to provide fast solutions to industry problems, and serve as expert witnesses or advisers for litigation issues.  Industry executives can also serve as members of university boards to provide counsel to leaders and managers of institutions.

GoodOil: What are some of the myths that the general public has towards mining?
SF: The two major myths are: (i) that mining is a low-tech industry; and (ii) that it is irrelevant to society.  Myth #1 is FALSE; the mining industry is a leader in the use of advanced technologies, such as seismic and GPS instrumentation, laser-guided precision survey equipment, mine design and production scheduling software, dispatch systems for equipment fleet, machine health diagnostics, computerized process control technologies, scanning and imaging technologies, automated technologies for complete systems and several other technologies.  Myth #2 is also FALSE; mining is the foundation for all technologies and the cornerstone for industrialization. From household environments to industrial environments, all materials are the products of mining.  The statement, "If it cannot be grown, it must be mined", is true in all cases everywhere in the world. No technological advances can be made by any society or country without mining.

GoodOil: How can industry and university leaders better educate the public to the importance of mining in our society?
SF: University and industry leaders can use several strategic initiatives to educate the public including (i) invitations to the public to functions where important mining issues are addressed; (ii) creation of Visitor Information Centers by mining companies, such as the Kennecott Utah Copper Corporation's Visitor Center at its Bingham Mine in Salt Lake City; (iii) production of easy-to-read materials on mining and society for public libraries; and (iv) spreading the "good news" about mining via TV commercials and bill boards.  These outlets have the power to educate the public on the role of mining in society.

GoodOil: This newsletter goes out to several thousand mining leaders, most of whom have different experiences than you.  Can you share some thoughts on lessons that you've learned over the years that could be helpful to our readers?
SF: Throughout life, I have learnt several lessons that provide a power base for my professional career. The first lesson I learnt early in life, which forms the core of my life is based on love for God and humanity. I also learnt early from my father that all successful ventures are attained through hard work, discipline and endurance. Also, in order to enjoy the benefits of tomorrow, one must be prepared to invest and forgo the pleasures of today. The greatest intellectuals and knowledgeable people cannot cease learning. Thus, continuous learning is the fabric of innovations and progress.  I have also learnt that humility is a core strength, which can lift people above the horizons of human endeavor.  Also, in order to sustain good societies in perpetuity, good people must multiply their influence in their generations for impacting future generations. As an educator and an engineer, I see this as a core value of society and business.  Finally, ethical standards must be upheld as core pillars of what we do because great achievements without ethics will be destroyed eventually.

About Dr. Samuel Frimpong

Samuel Frimpong is Professor and Chair of the Department of Mining and Nuclear Engineering and the Robert H. Quenon Endowed Chair at Missouri S&T.  He is also an Adjunct Professor at UofA.  He holds PhD (UofA, 1992), MSc (UNZA, 1988), Postgraduate Diploma (UMaT, 1986) and BSc (UMaT, 1985).  Dr. Frimpong has over 10 years experience of academic administration, 20 years in research, teaching, and consulting, and five years in mining and petroleum industry practice.  Prior to his current position, he worked as Professor and Associate Professor (UofA), Assistant Professor (TUNS), Postdoctoral Fellow (UofA), Research Associate (UZ), Research Engineer (State Gold mining Corp), Mining Engineer-Intern (Ashanti Goldfields, Ghana National Manganese Corp, and Agri-Petco of Ghana), and as Underground Miner (Tarkwa Goldfields).  Dr. Frimpong has been recognized with several awards and recognition including the Robert H. Quenon Endowed Chair, CPI Distinguished Lecturer, Award of Distinction by World Mining Congress, CIDA PhD Scholarship, Patron of the UMaT Alumni Association, Grand Award by the Northwest Mining Association, and a UNESCO Research Fellowship. He is a Co-Chair of the ASCE-UNESCO Monograph on Emerging Energy Technologies, a member of the Board of Natural Resources, the Vice Chair of the MERS Division of NASULGC, an Associate Editor for ASCE Journal of Energy Engineering and Int. Journal of Mining and Minerals Engineering, Editor for the International Journal of Mining, Reclamation and Environment, Guest Editor for IJRAM and IJOG.  He also serves as an Expert Member for the UNESCO Council on Emerging Energy Technologies, Member of the College of Reviewers for Canada Foundation for Innovation, Member of the Japanese Government's Research Council on CO₂ Sequestration. He was the External Reviewer for the CIDA Graduate Program in Energy Engineering, UNI, Peru and a current reviewer for 15 journals in Mining Engineering and Related Fields. Dr. Frimpong has taught over 60 short courses for international mining and petroleum companies, and consults for industries around the world.  He is a Registered Professional Engineer with memberships in APEGGA, CIM, SME, ASCE, and SCS.  Dr. Frimpong is a member of the international research councils for MPES, SWEMP, Bulk Materials Handling, INCEED, and IASTED. 

To learn more about Missouri University of Science & Technology, visit http://www.mst.edu.

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