Toronto, January 31, 2008 - The University of
Guelph and Kinross Gold Corporation today announced the creation of
a new education and research network between Canada and Brazil to
develop environmental initiatives focused on the use and
remediation of land and water.
Kinross is providing approximately $1 million in funding and
in-kind logistical support over a three-year period to help
establish the Kinross Canada-Brazil Network for Advanced Education
and Research in Natural Resource Management.
Co-ordinated by the University of Guelph, the network will
involve university, government and private-sector partners in
Canada and Brazil and provide opportunities for international
collaboration and multidisciplinary research activities.
The network's major focus will be working with resource
extraction industries on resource management initiatives, with the
goal of minimizing environmental impacts, using natural resources
more effectively and developing comprehensive strategies for
rehabilitating disturbed lands.
The network will explore novel methods to improve soil quality,
such as processing mine wastes to use as fertilizer or soil
conditioner. Researchers will also investigate ways to adapt
vegetation to grow on disturbed lands in order to improve soil and
water quality and potentially provide biofuel feedstock.
"Both Brazil and Canada are nations whose culture, economy and
political development are influenced significantly by their natural
resources," said Kinross president and CEO Tye Burt. "It makes
sense that on issues of sustainable land and water use, Canadian
and Brazilian institutions collaborate in a meaningful way."
"We hope this network will prove a new partnership model for
expanded co-operation between the private sector and outstanding
educational and research institutions like the University of
Guelph, as well as government and other partners," Mr. Burt added.
"Our vision is to create a platform for exponential growth that
will keep expanding to involve more partners and projects, building
our collective knowledge base on how to manage resources
responsibly."
Richard Heck, a University of Guelph land resource science
professor who helped create and will oversee the network, said
students will be provided with valuable teaching and learning
experiences. "Students want the opportunity to solve real-world
problems - to actually help make a difference with the environment
and with people's health and well-being."
Alastair Summerlee, the University of Guelph's president and
vice-chancellor, added that the network is a natural fit for the
University, which is recognized globally for its environmental
research and education programs and its stewardship.
"Kinross is an industry leader in sustainable resource
management and is committed to corporate social responsibility,"
Summerlee said. "And our university has a reputation for its
innovative approaches to protecting water, air and land. Working
together, we can develop projects that can serve as models of
sustainable development and be replicated by other corporations and
in other regions.
About Kinross:
Kinross is a Canadian-based gold mining company with mines in
the United States, Brazil, Russia and Chile, and approximately
5,000 employees worldwide. Kinross is listed on the Toronto Stock
Exchange (symbol:K) and the New York Stock Exchange (symbol:KGC).
Kinross is focused on the strategic objective of maximizing net
asset value and cash flow per share through a four-point plan built
on growth from core operations; expanding capacity for the future;
attracting and retaining the best people in the industry; and
driving new opportunities though exploration and acquisition.
About the University of Guelph:
The University of Guelph is renowned in Canada and around the
world as a research-intensive and learner-centred institution and
for its commitment to open learning, internationalism and
collaboration.The University has a broad research mandate embracing
the environment, ecology and biodiversity. It places particular
emphasis on aquatic and terrestrial environments, biodiversity and
evolutionary ecology, water quality and management, biodiversity
and evolutionary ecology, water quality and management, global
environmental change and controlled environments.