Mineral Security & Sustainability

Powering sustainable development through responsible resource innovation

A partnership between
The University of Queensland University of Exeter

Overview

Minerals are essential to clean energy, digital technologies, and global development. This theme pioneers solutions to ensure secure, ethical, and sustainable mineral supply chains—from discovery to responsible use—through fundamental science and cross-sector partnerships.

Focus Areas

  • Sustainable mining and circular economy
  • Critical minerals and supply chain resilience
  • Resource discovery and geoscience innovation
  • Environmental and community impact assessment
  • Industry transitions and regulatory innovation

Opportunities

The UQ-Exeter Institute provides diverse funding opportunities to foster collaboration between the University of Exeter and The University of Queensland.

These include support for joint workshops, high-impact research and education projects, and professional services fellowships. Each initiative aims to strengthen interdisciplinary partnerships, drive strategic priorities, and deliver meaningful, lasting impact aligned with the Institute’s key themes.

UQ-Exeter Accelerator Grants

UQ-Exeter Accelerator Grants are intended to support larger scale initiatives with the aim of securing external funding and/or producing high level outputs and impact.

Call for PhD Projects

Building on a platform of active collaboration and academic exchange, the UQ-Exeter Institute is continuing to build capacity and jointly invest in enhancing the opportunities for our researchers through UQ-Exeter PhD projects.

UQ-Exeter Professional Services Staff Fellowship

The fellowship program is designed to provide professional development opportunities and to share best practice and experience between professional colleagues at UQ and Exeter.

UQ-Exeter Institute Workshop Grants Scheme

The UQ-Exeter Institute Workshop Grants are designed to broaden academic and research collaboration between UQ and Exeter and are intended to support the delivery of, and attendance at, joint workshops and symposia.

Connect with our researchers

Professor Julian Ortiz Cabrera

(University of Exeter)

Professor Julian Ortiz Cabrera
Associate Professor Steven Micklethwaite

Associate Professor Steven Micklethwaite

(The University of Queensland)