Minerals Research Leaders: Katy Evans

Unveiling the minds behind breakthroughs: A Glimpse into Our Research Community.

At MRIWA we seek to support visionary minerals research projects creating economic, environmental and social benefit for Western Australia. In this article, we are thrilled to spotlight a Lead Investigator of one of these projects as part of an interview series in which we delve into the behind the scenes of what it is like to be championing impactful research.

Throughout this series we will be introducing Lead Investigators from a variety of MRIWA supported projects.

In this article, discover the dynamic world of research and innovation through the eyes of Professor Katy Evans .

Meet Katy Evans, lead researcher for project titled: A multi-scale approach to controls on mineralisation in the Fraser Zone, Western Australia.

This project aims to benefit Western Australia through enhanced mineral exploration success by further researching the mineral-prospective Fraser Zone, providing a detailed understanding of the prospective structures and geochemical and isotopic proxies (fingerprints) for mineralisation.

When we asked Katy to give us some insight into what her role as a lead researcher looks like, she responded to the following questions.

What is your background and what led you to work in this area?

I’m a geologist and working in Western Australia provides amazing opportunities to work on a whole range of different mineral systems. I specialize in nickel-copper systems that form during magmatism (the process that creates volcanoes, granite, and much more!) because the research problems are challenging, the minerals are shiny and technically interesting, and I love to get out in the field.

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Tell us a little bit about your role as Lead Investigator on this project?

As Lead Investigator, I get to do all the paperwork, but there are benefits. I supervise or co-supervise the three PhD students and the postdoctoral researcher working on the project so there is a constant stream of new results and ideas, and part of my job is to integrate these and see the bigger picture. I also ensure we communicate effectively with the industry partners and that the research stays aligned with their objectives.

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What inspired the research project, how does it address current industry challenges and how will your research benefit Western Australia?

This project grew out of a pre-existing project that focused on the whole of the Albany–Fraser Orogen, which wraps the south coast of Western Australia and heads up under the Nullarbor Plain. In that project, we gained a broad understanding of the large-scale processes that formed the mineral-prospective Fraser Zone but a closer look was required. This project is providing that closer look.

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What have you found most rewarding doing research?

My favourite thing is when a load of new data comes in and I get to look for patterns and test my ideas. It’s so exciting that nobody has seen these numbers before and it’s all brand new. But sunsets in the field and seeing students’ progress, become independent, and having great ideas all come close.

What have you found most challenging about doing research?

The hardest things are prioritizing all the different things that I want to do within a reasonable work–life balance, and the frustration of getting funding for research and universities (not from MRIWA, MRIWA are great).

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Can you share a piece of advice for those interested in pursuing a career in your field?

Do it because you love it. If you don’t then you’ll earn better money and have more of a life in another career. Sad but true.

Can you share a memorable experience or breakthrough moment from your research that had a significant impact on your work?

In 2017 I was lucky enough to go to Macquarie Island and collect some rocks. There were so many memorable moments in that remote and beautiful place, but the real benefit was there was no internet on the ship on the way back, so I really got stuck into learning about a new field for me (platinum-group-elements) and wrote a successful grant proposal that is a big part of what I do now.

How do you envision the future of your field, and what role do you see yourself playing in its evolution?

Climate change is the number one challenge we face and its disturbing our actions, as a society, do not match what the science tells us needs to be done. To live the lives we consider normal, we’ll need a huge amount of new critical minerals and I’d be more than happy to help find and understand them. I think we need to consider whether what we consider ‘normal’ should change, so I spend a fair bit of time trying to connect science and the community, which may ultimately be more important, at this stage, than the science itself.

What’s the next big project idea you want to work on?

Mineral exploration and mineral processing both focus on minerals but commonly involve completely different research disciplines and researchers. I’m waiting to hear about funding for mineral-related research on a big nickel-copper project that will use mineral characterisation to aid exploration and processing, with the added benefit that the project owners are also looking to optimise mineral carbonation and I get to be part of that too.

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Conclusions and more information.

In this glimpse into the research life of Katy, we see the challenges, triumphs and devotion that fuel the research journey - the impact of dedicated researchers and the pivotal role organisations play in propelling groundbreaking projects forward.

For more information about the MRIWA project Katy leads, click here.

For more inspiring stories from the frontiers of research, discovery and exploration at MRIWA, stay tuned here on LinkedIn for the Lead Investigator Interview Series. Together, let’s continue championing the pursuit of knowledge, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and advance Western Australia.