Successful 2015 Bowen Basin Symposium – “Bowen Basin and Beyond”

The Bowen Basin Geologists’ Group hosted the 5 yearly 2015 Bowen Basin Sympsoium at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre from the 7th – 9th October 2015. After 3+ years of planning more than 550 delegates and 41 exhibitors attended the event over the 3 days. In addition the event hosted 100 school students from Brisbane and South East Qld studying Earth Science who were able to hear from industry and research personnel and visit trade displays.

The 2015 Symposium had a packed technical and social programme including keynote speakers, workshops, research presentations, “Icebreaker” meet and greet and a Gala Dinner featuring Winter Olympics gold medallist Steven Bradbury as MC for the evening. 40 technical papers from a range of topics relevant to the coal industry were selected to present at the event. Of those that presented at the Symposium University of Qld PhD student Laura Phillips won best presentation for her work “Rationalising the Late Permian coal seam stratigraphy of the Koburra Trough, Galilee Basin”. For her efforts Laura won a magnificent framed photograph featuring Hancock Gorge in Karajini National Park (Western Australia). This prize was kindly donated by MD Geology. The research papers have now been collated and published in the 2015 Bowen Basin Sympsoium event proceedings volume. The Keynote Address presentation “King Coal” by Emeritus Professor Ian Plimer is now available for download via the BBGG Website (see Publications tab to the left).

Despite the current industry downturn the event received great support from a wide range of sponsors which enabled event registration costs to be kept as low as possible making it one of the best value conferences of 2015. This was reflected in the strong attendance numbers from both Queensland and NSW based delegates and consequently was a great networking opportunity. The Symposium committee wishes to thank the event sponsors and exhibitors, paper reviewers, workshop and research presenters, hardworking volunteers and all those who contributed to making the event a success over the 3 days. In addition the support of the Coal Geology Group (Geology Society of Australia), AUSIMM Geoscience Society, Australian Institute of Geoscientists is gratefully acknowledged. The next Bowen Basin Symposium will be held in 2020.

2015 Bowen Basin Symposium Organising Committee