IAMGOLD and Laurentian University: Innovation in Mining Starts in the Classroom

IAMGOLD was excited to visit and learn about the innovative engineering activities at Laurentian University, in Sudbury in Northern Ontario.

Our President and CEO Renaud Adams, along with Chief People Officer Dorena Quinn, and Senior Manager, Talent Acquisition Kelly Silva, recently visited a mechatronics class at the university’s Bharti School of Engineering, seeing first-hand the mining innovation taking place in the classroom. Students were hard at work on their capstone projects – exploring ways to make autonomous vehicles, which are increasingly being used in mining projects, even safer and more efficient.  

Our team also met with Dr. Katie Goggins and Dawson O’Hara, who are pioneering research to lessen the impact of injuries for truck drivers by optimizing seat adjustments and measuring vibration exposure. This work has the potential to improve ergonomics and safety for operators across our industry.

Meanwhile, in the field, our Côté Gold Mine is supporting two talented Laurentian University teams as they compete in upcoming mining events – Mine Rescue Team and Hard Rock Miners Team.

In January, the Laurentian University Hard Rock Miners Team visited the Côté Gold Mine for a site tour as well as a coaching session with Côté’s Senior Mine Engineer, Nick den Hartog, to prepare for the Canadian Mining Games in March.

The Laurentian University Mine Rescue Team is also gearing up to compete at the Mine Emergency Rescue Development event in Colorado in late February. Vice President, Ontario and General Manager, Côté Gold, Bryan Wilson, visited the team at practice recently and was impressed with their skill and enthusiasm.

Through competitions and capstones projects, we’re thrilled to support Laurentian students as they develop real-world solutions that move our industry forward.