Past Winner
2011 NSERC Synergy Awards for Innovation

Roussos Dimitrakopoulos

McGill University

Leo Derikx Award

Mines operate in a complex, uncertain and high-risk global environment. Stochastic mine modelling helps mining companies to yield more metal production from the same resource and achieve a higher return on investment, while reducing environmental impacts.

Roussos Dimitrakopoulos is among the world's foremost thinkers in the field of stochastic mine planning optimization. This new framework is based on developing mathematical and computing models to help mining companies make the best possible strategic and sustainable decisions. This contributes to socially responsible, defendable and objective decision making in mining—a key industry for Canada’s economy and global growth.

Dr. Dimitrakopoulos holds the Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Mineral Resource Development and Optimization Under Uncertainty. Returning after a decade in Australia through the Canada Research Chairs program, Dr. Dimitrakopoulos established the COSMO Stochastic Mine Planning Laboratory at McGill University in collaboration with a consortium of six global mining companies—BHP Billiton, AngloGold Ashanti, Barrick Gold, De Beers, Newmont and Vale.

The laboratory generates new ideas, new methods and a new technical-scientific paradigm for addressing the sustainable development of mineral resources. This is an area of critical importance to society, ensuring the supply of raw materials, metals and energy that support jobs and economic growth.