News

By Special Correspondent, CMU

A team of Geology and Geophysics students from the Department of Geosciences at the School of Mines and Geosciences (SoMG), University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) have earned the impressive first runner-up position in the prestigious 2024 Next Generation Explorers Award (NGEA™) Regional Challenge.

The event took place in Windhoek, Namibia, from 1^st to 3^rd October 2024, at the Southern African Geophysical Association (SAGA) and Society of Economic Geologists (SEG) annual meetings where the students presented detailed research findings based on regional terrain data highlighting potential mineral resources in Tanzania.

Speaking about this achievement, SoMG Dean, Dr. Elisante Mshiu, said that, in this challenge, the students’ presentations were evaluated by a distinguished panel of judges composed of professionals from industry and academia.

“This achievement marks a significant milestone for the students, showcasing their exceptional analytical and presentation skills before key stakeholders in annual meetings taking place in Namibia”, said Dr. Mshiu.

Dr. Mshiu said that because of this outstanding performance, the students have been selected to participate in the international session of the Frank Arnott-Next Generation Explorers Award (NGEA™), a global challenge scheduled to take place during the PDAC Convention in March 2025 in Toronto, Canada.

“This opportunity will allow them to present their research on a global stage, competing against top student teams worldwide and engaging with leading experts in geosciences and mineral exploration”, he said.

Students from SoMG-UDSM, who took part on this international challenge include Hadija Tola (4^th year, doing Bsc in Geology); Catherine Michibi (3^rd, Bsc in Geophysics); and Adeline Shilula (3^rd, Bsc in Geophysics).

Recognition to UDSM

UDSM Deputy Vice Chancellor-Academic, Prof. Bonaventure Rutinwa, said the student’s participation in such a prestigious event “not only enhances their professional profiles but also brings recognition to the University of Dar es Salaam in general, and the School of Mines and Geosciences (SoMG) of UDSM in particular as centres for nurturing future talent in the field”.

The NGEA™ Africa programme is designed to engage students enrolled in undergraduate earth science programmes or those pursuing postgraduate research degrees (Master’s or PhD) at African universities. Teams of up to four members are invited to register and participate in the challenge, where they analyse government-provided regional terrain data, highlighting potential mineral resources in their home countries.

This initiative fosters innovation and collaboration in mineral exploration while providing students with hands-on experience using real-world data to identify and assess areas with significant mineral endowment potential.

Through participation in the NGEA™, students gain exposure to cutting-edge technologies, advanced analytical techniques, and practical applications of geoscience research in the mining and exploration industries, laying a strong foundation for their future careers.