A three-year memorandum of understanding (MoU), signed between Geoscience BC and the British Columbia Geological Survey, will provide a framework to jointly identify public mineral geoscience needs in the province, standardise data collection and public access to data and leverage resources to co-deliver mineral research projects, programmes and initiatives in the province.

The MoU details how the organisations will coordinate and collaborate on geoscience research related to mineral resources in the province.

As part of implementing the MoU, a coordination steering committee has been formed to guide the current and future collaborative work between the organisations. A charter outlining the purpose and functions of the committee has also been signed.

Geoscience BC president and CEO Gavin Dirom says the British Columbia Geological Survey and Geoscience BC are the “heart of a made-in-BC approach” to public geoscience that attracts investment, stimulates innovation and informs responsible mineral exploration and development decisions in the province.

“Leveraging resources and coordinating on mineral research projects is important to industry, communities and investors that rely on public geoscience, and so formalising the collaboration between the organisations with this MoU is a logical and welcome step.”

Association for Mineral Exploration (AME) president and CEO Kendra Johnston adds that in following-up from the recommendations of the Mining Jobs Task Force report, AME is pleased to see the formalisation of a collaborative approach to geoscience in BC.

“The British Columbia Geological Survey and Geoscience BC provide a unique made-in-British Columbia approach to providing high-quality public geoscience that is key to informing responsible development decisions and to attracting global investment to British Columbia.”