Overview
The study of planning, designing and developing systems, processes and plant for locating and extracting minerals, oil and gas from the earth, and for physically and chemically transforming raw materials to produce metals, alloys, petrochemicals, ceramics, polymers and other materials. It includes the industrial manufacture, processing, packaging and handling of foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals and biochemicals. The main purpose of this narrow field of education is to develop an understanding of the theory and technology of extracting, processing and refining minerals, oil and gas; the chemical and physical properties of metals, alloys, petrochemicals, ceramics, polymers and other materials; the techniques of packaging food; and the management, regulatory and safety aspects of production.
Course skills
Process and Resources Engineering develops skills in:
- analysing the structure, composition and properties of materials
- applying chemical and metallurgical techniques to the commercial production of metals, alloys, petrochemicals, ceramics, polymers and other materials
- developing techniques for producing and processing metals, alloys, petrochemicals, ceramics, polymers, foodstuffs and other materials
- designing, constructing and operating mines, refineries, chemical and food processing plants
- surveying mineral, oil and gas deposits to assess the economic feasibility of mining.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics