Symposium on Water, Air and Land: Sustainability Issues in Mineral and Metal Extraction (WALSIM)
August 24-27, 2008
Winnipeg, Canada

Chairs
Charles Jia, University of Toronto - Ram Rao,McGill University

The quest for a better quality of life by growing world population has driven the demand for metals and minerals to a record level. Satisfying this demand intensifies the challenges associated with waste production, water and land use and air quality. Mineral and metals are extracted increasingly in remote areas such as mountains and deep oceans while the final products of the industry are largely consumed in urban centres. How to maximize the value of natural resources in harmony with the environment is a central question to be addressed in this symposium.We will continue to search for viable solutions in waste minimization, utilization and recycling. We will again examine the technical options for reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants. New to this year’s symposium is our sessions on water and land use, where the opportunities in water treatment and recycling, and land reclamation, such as biological technologies will be discussed. The Symposium will bring together colleagues from industry, academia and government to share experience, build collaboration and will feature the latest technological, scientific advances and policy development on existing and emerging issues that affect the ability to sustain the development of our industry. Join us as we bring together leaders and practitioners from developing and developed countries.

Major Areas:

• Recycling of metals from post-consumer materials (e.g. electronics, discarded batteries).
• Recovery of metals and other values from industrial by-products (e.g. spent catalysts, slags).
• Greenhouse gas management.
• Emission reduction of air pollutants (e.g. SO2, NOx, PM, Hg).
• Wastewater treatment and reuse.
• Recovery of chemicals and reagents from process waters.
• Treatment, processing and reuse of tailings.
• Acid mine/rock drainage.
• Mining site remediation and land reclamation.

Sponsored by the Environment Section of Metallurgical Society of CIM

DATE AND VENUE

The Conference of Metallurgists, the premier annual event of the Metallurgical Society of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum is returning to Winnipeg after an absence of 21 years. Like the 1987 Conference, the 2008 COM will offer an exciting technical program with international flavour, which is currently being developed under the guidance of Dr. Bill Caley of Dalhousie University in Halifax. In addition, participants will also enjoy the hospitality and picturesque nature that “Friendly Manitoba” is famous for. Come to Winnipeg in August of 2008 and make the conference venue a centerpiece for an exciting summer family vacation.

PROCEEDINGS

The proceedings of the symposium will be published in book form and will be available at the meeting. Both the symposium and its proceedings will be in English. All papers will be refereed and edited prior to final acceptance and publication.

CALL FOR PAPERS

COM 2008 will be a unique opportunity to explore technological and scientific advances, as well as economic and strategic trends.Among the numerous attendees, there will be industry executives, plant operators, representatives of universities and research institutes, design and operating engineers, economists, financial analysts and metallurgical, environmental and health experts from all over the world. The Organizing Committee will be inviting the submission of papers on any of the technical, scientific or economic themes de-scribed above.

Abstracts should include:

• The paper title.
• 100-word or less abstract.
• Author(s) name, affiliation, complete address, email address and telephone number.

Please visit our website to submit an abstract electronically at: www.metsoc.org/com2008

DEADLINES

• December 31, 2007:Deadline for receipt of abstracts.
• January 31, 2008: Notification of abstract acceptance and Instructions for manuscript preparation.
• April 1, 2008: Submission of full-length manuscript.

TECHNICAL TOUR

A one-day post conference tour to major environmental facilities in the Winnipeg region will be organized.