NGEA™Africa
NGEA™Africa 2024 presents a once in a lifetime opportunity for students
Returning for a second year at the Southern African Geophysical Association (SAGA) Conference is NGEA™ Africa, a regional skills-based competition for geoscience students using industry software and innovative exploration techniques to uncover valuable insights from datasets provided from around the world.
The Frank Arnott – Next Generation Explorers Award (NGEA™) is an international competition where teams of mineral geoscience university students collaborate and innovate to transform geoscience data sets into their interpretation of the subsurface geology and mineralisation targets. Its aim is to build a sustainable supply of enthusiastic, skilled geoscientists that can steer the mineral industry going forward.
WHY PARTICIPATE?
Career development, international recognition and cash prizes are but a few of the benefits to participants. The challenge offers students hands-on experience working with modern datasets encountered in the field, opportunities to improve their leadership and team-based skills, and the ability to expand their industry networks and increase potential employment opportunities.
All participating teams will receive feedback and recognition by members of the mineral exploration industry.
WHO CAN ENTER?
NGEA™ Africa is open to students who are enrolled in an undergraduate earth science degree or postgraduate research (Masters or PhD) at an African university.
Students are encouraged to register as teams of a maximum of four members and use government-provided regional terrain data with potential mineral endowment from their home country. They may also select one of the African datasets provided by the NGEA™.
HOW DOES THE JUDGING PROCESS WORK?
A panel of industry judges will review the submissions and select up to six teams to present live at the 2024 SAGA Conference from 1 to 4 October, in Windhoek, Namibia. Each team will have five minutes to present their submission and answer questions from the judges and audience.
Judges will evaluate the results using the Assessment Rubric which speak to innovation in data integration and visualisation, application of methodologies new to earth sciences, exploration significance of team findings and discernible evidence of collaboration within the team.
WILL MY TRAVELLING COSTS BE COVERED?
Travel, accommodation, meals and conference costs for up to four team members will be covered by NGEA™. The winning NGEA™ Africa team will also be invited to present at the international Frank Arnott – Next Generation Explorers Award session during the March 2025 Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) Convention in Toronto, Canada. Flight and accommodation costs will be covered for at least two members.
HOW DO I ENTER?
Please contact us at nextgenerationexplorersaward@gmail.com to register your team for NGEA™ Africa.
The submission deadline for NGEA™ Africa is 15 August 2024.
Submissions will also be considered for the global NGEA™, giving all students the additional potential to compete at PDAC 2025.