From an early age, I wanted to know how things worked. I remember always disassembling toys and gadgets, then trying to reassemble them back to their original states.
As I grew older, engineering became the logical path for me. But the various streams of engineering were overwhelming. Chemical, mechanical, electrical, civil, and so on, I struggled to decide which of these I was best suited for. In high school, I dabbled in many interests, but I most enjoyed programming and robotics. If you ask anyone in engineering, that points to mechanical, electrical, or computer engineering. Even though I liked those fields, I couldn’t see myself working in any of them for whatever reason. Something just did not click. I wanted to be more “hands-on” with what I’m doing and have experience in the field, wherever that may be.
When I began researching and asking my parents for guidance, my dad threw the idea of environmental/mining engineering at me. Well, maybe because it isn’t that popular or talked about. All you hear nonstop nowadays is how technology is the future and how AI is going to rule the world.
Before going into mining engineering, I never met anyone else who was interested in this career path. I had people ask me “Why mining?”, “you’re better off with robotics and technology”, “AI is the future!”. I am not going to lie, as an impressionable young teen those comments planted some seeds of doubt in my mind.
So, I began to look more into it and realized that mining is actually a very big, lucrative sector that is the backbone of society. Being born and raised in the United Arab Emirates, I failed to realize the significance of this industry across the country and the world. Most of us who live and work there just take it for granted and don’t realize how crucial it is to function as a society. Even here in Canada, I realized that not many people are as interested or literate about the industry.
Every industry heavily depends on mining. Without it, nothing would be possible, and we would not get the energy and resources that we need. No other sector would be able to function without it. Things like the device you’re using to read this blog, the cutlery you use for food, and the house you live in are all a product of mining.
So, when it was time to apply for universities specifically for mining engineering, Canada was by far the top choice for me. Luckily for me, I am a domestic student, so it made things easier to deal with. Canada is a leader in the mining industry and is home to about 75% of the world’s mining companies’ headquarters. And the university that I attend is the University of Toronto which has a strong engineering faculty. Toronto is also where a lot of mining events are held, so just being in that environment is a welcome bonus.
One thing that I realized while being in Toronto was that there was a drastic difference in students in the mining engineering program as opposed to other disciplines of engineering. In my first year, of over 1000 first-year engineering students at the University of Toronto, there were only about 30 students in the mining engineering program. By the end of my first year, there were only 14 students left in the program. This was interesting to see. Why was there a disinterest in mining? Do people not see what I see? Am I possibly wrong? These were some thoughts I had when I saw my friends leaving.
This reminded me of when people advised me not to study mining engineering and choose something else. Remembering why I chose this career and industry reinforced my interest in it. The awesome stuff you see like the rockets getting launched up into space, for deep sea exploration exists today because of mining.
After I got through my first year, I went all in on mining. Having been to many conferences and exhibitions, it seems that there is much more to it than I had initially thought. From the different bolts needed to use for operations, to the types of trucks miners use, it was more than I could have ever imagined.
One thing that people don’t know about mining is that it’s one of the most advanced industries out there. The technologies mining engineers use are second to none, and the use of artificial intelligence is widely adopted.
Another thing that people fail to realize is that the industry is very ‘top’ heavy. Most of the people in senior roles in the industry are close to retiring. Soon there will be a wave of demand for labor in mining. This is a big plus for us young mining professionals, as there are ample opportunities and room for growth. But at the same time, this is bad for industry and development.
The more I learn about the industry, the more I love it. I personally cannot wait to take more mining-related courses at school and gain on-site experience. It truly is a shame that many people do not appreciate the lucrative, fun industry mining is. I aspire to educate and show others what this industry has to offer and all the different ways it could contribute to our society.
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