Dr. Steve Jason Chingwaru recently completed his PhD in Geometallurgy at Stellenbosch University. His groundbreaking research, which demonstrated that over 420 tons of gold remain in the historical mine waste of the Witwatersrand, has earned significant recognition from the mining industry and both local and international media. Dr. Chingwaru has authored several peer-reviewed articles in leading scientific journals and presented his findings at numerous local and international conferences.
Dr Chingwaru's strong commitment to sustainable mining has guided his work on mine waste (tailings), bridging the disciplines of geology, environmental sciences, and geometallurgy. Throughout his academic career, he has been awarded numerous scholarships, highlighting his academic excellence and dedication.
In addition to his research, Dr Chingwaru has served as a teaching assistant and mentor to both undergraduate and postgraduate students for four years, fostering a passion for science and sustainability among the next generation of scholars. He currently holds a position as a commodity analyst and postgraduate researcher.
Dr. Chingwaru holds a BSc in Geology and a BSc Honours in Applied Earth Sciences at Stellenbosch University. He is now eager to apply his expertise at the Sustainable Minerals Institute in Australia, to the sustainable extraction of critical minerals to meet the increasing global demand for metals such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements. His goal is to reduce the environmental impact of mining by developing environmentally friendly extraction methods and supporting the energy transition in which critical metals play a crucial role.