A 12 million pound initiative brings together four British universities – Cardiff, Lancaster, Nottingham and Southampton – to develop world-leading work in the field of Operational Research (OR).
The LANCS initiative, supported with a Science and Innovation Award from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), will bring about a significant expansion of the national research base in OR to build new research capacity and help UK industry to compete in the global market.
The discipline of OR uses advanced analytical methods, including mathematical and computer modelling, to arrive at the best solutions to complex problems. It is widely used in healthcare, industry, finance and defence. OR techniques are used, for example, in airport scheduling, road traffic management, educational timetabling, production scheduling, freight logistics and supply chains, and numerous other areas of modern life.
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The nation’s main coalbed methane developer signed a deal with two companies on Friday for a new technology to boost production.
China United Coalbed Methane Corp Ltd (CUCBM) signed the agreement with Canadian firm Petromin Resources Ltd and Hong Kong-based Enviro Energy International Holding Ltd. Total investment in the project is 9.9 million yuan (US$1.37 million).
The project will inject carbon dioxide (CO2) deep into coal seams that cannot be mined, to enhance production capacity. Enviro Energy International and Petromin will bring technical guidance, support and assistance and CUCBM will provide labs and supervise outdoor operations.
The project is a milestone in deep coalbed methane development in China, Sun Maoyuan, president of CUCBM, told China Daily.
Recycling and storing CO2, is also an important step to reduce emissions. The project Read more
By CHUCK BARTELS
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
LITTLE ROCK — A $42.8 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that was announced Friday will enable Heifer International to expand a program designed to reduce poverty among 1 million people living on rural dairy farms in three East African countries.
An important focus of the effort will be bringing more women into positions of responsibility, both on family farms and at regional milk chilling plants.
The grant is for parts of Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, where 179,000 families are to receive assistance.
Heifer intends to provide 169,000 head of cattle – better livestock than the cows now on the small family farms – and get another 10,000 families able to provide forage for the animals, said Sahr Lebbie, Heifer vice president for its Africa Program. Read more
Consultation and Conservation Demands Conflict with Outdated Mining Law across Canada’s Boreal Forest
THUNDER BAY, ON, – /CNW Telbec/ – Spreading disputes between First Nations and mining companies may lead to jail time for Aboriginal leaders in northern Ontario pending the outcome of an Ontario Superior Court of Justice appearance today. Chief Donnie Morris and other members of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI), an Aboriginal community in the Boreal Forest of Ontario, may be jailed for refusing to comply with an October,2007 court ruling that allows Platinex Inc., a Toronto-based mineral exploration company, to begin drilling on KI traditional lands without protest or obstruction. KI had established a peaceful protest camp at the Platinex exploration site.
Today’s hearing is part of a larger trend of heated battles on the ground and in the courts between northern First Nations and mineral exploration companies. Outdated laws which Read more
Record gold prices, turbulent stock markets and an eroding US economy are providing an intriguing backdrop for the 25th anniversary of the Mineral Exploration Roundup conference, which will be held at Vancouver’s Westin Bayshore hotel from January 28 to January 31.
Last year’s Roundup conference attracted more than 6,000 participants from over 30 countries. Hosted by the Association for Mineral Exploration BC (AME BC), Roundup is the world’s premier technical mineral exploration conference. This year’s Roundup conference, “From Discovery to Development”, features international speakers on Canada’s most promising mineral discoveries, exploration activities around the world and industry developments ranging from the outlook for commodities to building better relationships with communities and First Nations.
“This has been a stellar year for the global mineral exploration industry, which is reflected by the overwhelming response we’ve had to our conference,” said Randy Turner, Mineral Exploration Roundup Chair & President and CEO of Diamondex Resources Ltd. The Roundup trade show, which will feature 238 companies, was sold out in August and presently there are 147 companies on the waiting list for exhibit space. Read more
A report on the environmental effect of a proposed major Wimmera mining development, in western Victoria, is complete.
The environmental effects statement for the Donald mineral sands project took two years to finish, and the 1,300-page report is due to be released to the public on February 4.
The project’s Simon Peters says the document details how aspects such as noise, water and flora and fauna at the site, south of Minyip, will be managed.
“We’ve finally got a document that we’re happy with, the Victorian Government’s happy with, that it’s been done in accordance with the proper rules and regulations … so, yes, we’ve got a document that’s fairly comprehensive and we believe that it answers everyone’s questions,” he said./ABC
The Environment Public Authority (EPA) in accordance with Kuwait Municipality is responsible for governing and safe-guarding the protected areas and requests the public for conserving plants and wildlife especially during the months from November until March when the public is camping in the desert areas. The best months to visit and study Kuwait’s flora are January, February and March when the desert comes alive with colourful plants.
In order to protect the Kuwait fauna and flora public must adhere to: Certain designated areas which are allocated for camping and leisure purposes as a mode of preserving the desert environment; Avoid plucking and/or driving over and destroying the desert plants; Avoid driving in close proximity to the desert plant as it inevitably destroys life in its early stage as a lot of toxins is released from the car; Avoid driving over the burrows which belong to desert wildlife species; campers must clean the camping place before leaving; EPA also requests the public towards preservation of the Kuwait coral reefs and the marine environment during their visit to the Kuwait islands; Avoid hunting marine turtles and native/migratory birds who visit the islands; Avoid dumping waste into the sea and around the beach area to promote clean environment. Read more