As society seeks to create a sustainable future, the global demand for minerals will continue to increase. While the resource industry is working to meet this increased demand, it is also reshaping itself to reduce its impact on communities and the environment.

The SMI is creating change through research discovery and collaborative global initiatives and consortia, working collaboratively with industry and research partners bringing both depth and breadth of expertise to its research and consulting work. It is training the next generation of industry and community leaders through Higher Degrees by Research and through a growing number of professional development programs.

The Sustainable Minerals Institute opened in 2001 as a new wave of thinking swept through the international minerals industry, centred on the concept of Sustainable Development.

In early 2000, over 20 international mining companies and other commercial and non-commercial sponsors, working through the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, commissioned the Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development Project. The Project aimed to examine the role of the minerals sector in contributing to Sustainable Development.

Anticipating some of the outcomes of the MMSD Project, UQ developed a proposal for submission to the Queensland State Government to expand the existing minerals-related research capacity and address the wider social and sustainability challenges facing the global resource industry.

In mid 2000, the Queensland State Government announced support for the proposal through an award of $10million and the Sustainable Minerals Institute was established.

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