Laurentian University Announces New Recipients of the IAMGOLD President's Innovation Fund

Laurentian University has announced the latest recipients of the IAMGOLD President's Innovation Fund for Strategic Investment, supporting a new group of student-led and faculty-supported projects focused on innovation, applied research and hands-on learning.

Established in 2025 through a $2.5 million investment from IAMGOLD, the fund helps turn ideas into practical research initiatives that advance mining education, environmental stewardship, workplace safety and emerging technologies.

This year's recipients are exploring a wide range of topics, including wetland restoration, workplace fatigue monitoring, artificial intelligence, autonomous robotics and psychosocial health and safety. While each project focuses on a different area of study, all share a common goal: addressing real-world challenges while creating meaningful learning opportunities for students.

Among the selected projects are research examining frog populations and wetland recovery as indicators of ecological restoration, AI-enabled monitoring systems designed to improve mine safety, studies focused on workplace fatigue prevention, and initiatives supporting student innovation in autonomous robotics. The fund is also helping provide hands-on learning opportunities through field-based geology experiences that complement classroom education.

The diversity of this year's projects reflects the evolving nature of the mining industry and the many disciplines that contribute to its future. By supporting applied research and experiential learning, the fund helps students and researchers explore practical solutions that can benefit industry, communities and the environment.

Congratulations to this year's recipients. We look forward to following their work and seeing how these projects continue to advance mining innovation and learning across Northern Ontario and beyond.