Perth’s Resources Technology Showcase 2019: Students will take us into new era of innovation

Zero harm, greenhouse gas reduction and selective mining underpins the future of the mining industry and need both innovative thinking and student buy-in, according to global giant Caterpillar Inc.

Presenting to teachers at the innovation showcase 2019, Caterpillar surface mining and technology division vice-president Jean Savage said teachers and students held the key to necessary change.

“We need to make it fun and interactive because students are going to solve our future problems so we’re involving them in robotics competitions, creating solar-powered go-karts and taking them on site visits to see the equipment,” Ms Savage said.

“It’s also about our current and future employees. We know with declining numbers of people looking to join our industry, we need to get children interested while they are still at school.

TOUCH AND PLAY: See what else is on show at the free exhibition at PCEC.

“Our mines of the future are going to be vastly different and we will need a completely different skill set which is under threat if we don’t start attracting young people into the industry.”

Ms Savage said innovation also underpinned Caterpillar’s core value of keeping its people safe which was critical in an industry which currently had 37,000 injuries and fatalities every year.

“Elimination of live work is critical so the creation of any technology which addresses this makes the work place a safer place for employees.”