Lisard Torró, responsible for the Technical Talks proEXPLO2023, in an interview for the Peruvian Institute of Mining Engineers, tells us about the progress in terms of technical work, courses and registration for proEXPLO 2023, the International Congress of Prospectors and Explorers to be held from May 8 to 10.

What is new in proEXPLO 2023 compared to the previous edition?

In terms of technical work and the geoscience education pillar, of which I am in charge, I would highlight that this year we have launched the 1st SEG-SGA-IIMP INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION FOR STUDENT PRESENTATIONS PROEXPLO 2023. The contest rules and associated prizes can be found at https://proexplo.com.pe/proexplo2023/front/public/es/concurso-estudiantil. As the name implies, the competition is supported and funded by the Society of Economic Geologists (SEG; https://www.segweb.org) and the Society for Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits (SGA; https://e-sga.org), as well as the IIMP. Student talks will be presented during regular sessions, i.e., together with senior presenters, and will be evaluated by a committee of experts.

In addition, a round table discussion on geoscience education in Peru is scheduled. During the same, the strengths and weaknesses of Geological Engineering careers in Peru will be discussed, as well as the directions they should take to better adjust to the international market in terms of geology of mineral deposits. This round table will have the participation of leading figures from the world of economic geology in the fields of academia and industry, such as Lluís Fontboté (University of Geneva), Antonio Arribas (University of Texas at El Paso), Silvia Rosas (Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú) and Sebastián Benavides (president of proEXPLO 2023).

The pre- and post-congress courses are more ambitious than ever. In addition, as a novelty, we will include field visits. More information regarding the courses is available on the congress website and will be added soon.

What is the progress in terms of technical papers exhibited at proEXPLO 2023?

The call for technical papers has been a success in terms of participation in the five thematic areas: i. Mineral resources for a sustainable future, ii. Innovation in mineral resource exploration, iii. New discoveries and project advances, iv. Advances in the knowledge of mineral systems, and v. Environment, Society and Governance. We received over 80 abstracts!

Of these, approximately 30 have been accepted. A few are still under review. This slight delay in the review period is the price to pay for having a top-notch panel of national and international reviewers. We have prioritized quality over quantity. The abstracts that have been accepted are excellent contributions to the field of mineral prospecting and exploration in each of the above-mentioned areas.

How many of these papers are part of the 1st International Competition for Students?

Approximately a quarter of the papers received were submitted for the student competition. Unfortunately, many of them did not meet the minimum standards in terms of presentation (both format and basic writing) and content and could not be accepted. We have identified that a fairly recurrent problem is the fact that some students have not been trained in the preparation of technical papers. It is also common that the poor quality of the writing makes it impossible to understand the texts. This is of concern and will surely be one of the points to be discussed at the round table on geoscience education.

How did the initiative to promote student participation come about?

We want to promote student participation in proEXPLO and, in general, in the mining prospecting and exploration environment. It is so important to us that it has even been defined as one of the three key pillars of the 2023 edition: geoscience education/students. In addition, we want to identify relevant works on mineral deposits that have been developed by students and reward them accordingly. We wanted it to be an international competition, since geology knows no borders.

Is it true that students will have free access to the event?

Yes, students associated with the IIMP will have free virtual access. Any questions can be sent to associates@iimp.org.pe

What is the importance of proEXPLO 2023 and why should all geologists and explorers in the industry participate?

proEXPLO is one of the most important mineral prospecting and exploration events in the world, along with PDAC in Toronto. Of course, it is the most important event in this field in Latin America, which in itself is relevant because our region is one of the main producers of a variety of metals. I would like to emphasize that it is focused on "prospecting and mineral exploration" and therefore its objective and scope are well defined and much more specific than those of other congresses on mineral deposits in general. Therefore, participation in proEXPLO represents an excellent opportunity for all those involved in mineral prospecting and exploration, both in companies and in academia.

How can they register?

Registration is online by accessing the following link: https://proexplo.com.pe/proexplo2023/front/public/es/categorias-ins

There are different categories and rates vary according to them. A special rate is offered until February 28, 2023.

proEXPLO 2023: Descubriendo la Minería del Futuro