Australian experts in India to build greater understanding of capabilities in mining, agriculture sectorsThu 30th June 2016
Two Australian experts are helping Indians get a better understanding of ways to improve safety in the mining sector and create more effective farming systems.
Professor David Cliff and Professor Richard Bell are visiting under the auspices of the Australia India Education Council’s (AIEC) Eminent Researcher Lecture Program.
Professor David Cliff, Professor of Occupational Health and Safety in the Minerals Industry, University of Queensland, visited institutions in Delhi, Kolkata, Dhanbad and Kharagpur and delivered lectures on risk assessment and control of explosion hazards in mines, safety and emergency management systems for mines.
His visit has generated interest from a number of mid-sized mining companies for safety training courses and raising the profile of Australian mining technologies in India.
‘I was delighted in the keen interest for collaboration, both from industry and academia. It was also pleasing to discover that Australia’s safety and risk assessment in mining is considered world’s best practice in India,’ Professor Cliff said
Professor Richard Bell, of the Murdoch School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, has made contributions to a range of research areas, including conservation agriculture and mechanisation on small farms, nutrient management to alleviate crop stress; nutrient use efficiency and acid tolerance of crops; and managing crops on sands and saline soils.
As part of his program, he is visiting prominent institutions in Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Kharagpur to deliver lectures on weed control and conservation agriculture and on mechanisation of crop production.
‘This initiative has provided an invaluable opportunity for me to engage with my Indian counterparts. I’ve come across a lot of enthusiasm to collaborate in a number of areas, including seeding technology developed with Australian input,’ Professor Bell said.
The AIEC is a bi-national body co-chaired by the Australian and Indian Education Ministers for driving the Australia India education, training and research agenda.
More information on the activities of the AIEC can be found at australiaindiaeducation.com.
The short interviews of the two Australian experts while they were in India are below:
David Cliff- Mining and Safety
Richard Bell- Agriculture
