HomeG.ecbo internship: Ural branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Russia) in AY2012
(Beside a light airplane used for commuting to a mining site in Western Australia (I am second from the left in the first row.))
Currently I am doing work searching for gold in the Hishikari Mine, in northern Kagoshima prefecture. For 2-3 months each year I visit prospecting sites (in the desert) or operational mines in Australia or Alaska. There I mix in with the local geological engineers and carry out mining activities. From April this year, I will be stationed at a copper mine in Australia and together with the local geological engineers, I¡¯ll be engaged in prospecting operations around the mine area, in order to extend the life of the mine.
Opportunities in which you take advantage of your internship experience/what you learned via the program
During my G.ecbo internship, while of course I deepened my knowledge of my chosen research subject about mineral deposits, I was also able to have valuable experiences such as exchanging email with my counterpart before my departure, and having discussions with researchers in the field while looking at rocks. I feel that those experiences help me now when I have to take trips overseas or when I welcome guests from overseas. Regarding my post in Australia from April, I¡¯m a little worried as to what I will be able to do in an environment which is completely different to my current environment here in Japan, but the courage that I found during my G.ecbo internship (Things will take care of themselves), and my attitude of trying to enjoy everything will get me through.
( Scene at a mining site in Western Australia)
