Technical Advisory Council

Dr. Alderton is an Honorary Research Associate in the Department of Earth Sciences at Royal Holloway, University of London, UK. Formerly a lecturer in Geology at Royal Holloway with over 35 years of experience teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, his research using field and laboratory-based studies has been carried out at numerous locations around the globe. The results of this research have been widely published, with the focus on two broad themes: the characteristics and genesis of hydrothermal, metalliferous mineral deposits, and the geochemistry of mining-related pollution. Dr. Alderton’s collaboration with the mining and engineering industry has concentrated on the chemical and mineralogical characterization of mining waste and minimizing its effect on the environment.

Prof. R. Baskar is a Professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar, Haryana, India. He has also been an Academic Guest in the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zurich, Switzerland, Technical University of Munich, Germany, Centre for Geobiology, Norway, Stockholm University, Sweden, VTT, Finland, Jagiellonian University, Poland and Slovak Caves Administration, Slovakia. He actively takes part in several national and international conferences, workshops, field work and training programs, including outreach activities. Prof. Baskar has been professing for the seamless integration of geology and microbiology and has been one of the pioneering Indian workers in cave geomicrobiology. He has published several research papers along with other workers, which has resulted in the significant advancement of fundamental knowledge about mineral-microbe interactions. Prof. Baskar believes that public engagement with science is essential for a high level of outreach activities and delivers popular scientific lectures in schools, colleges, universities, and publishes popular science articles.

Dr. Hamida Diab holds degrees in Geology from the University of Annaba, Algeria (PhD) and the University of Tebessa (BSc and MSc). She has more than 11 years of experience in minerals exploration and exploitation, sedimentary geology, geochemistry, environmental geology, structural and field geology, petrology, and geotechnical applications. She has experience with several mining companies in technical and administrative positions, including as the Technical Coordinator at the National Office of Geological and Mining Research (ORGM). She is currently a Project manager at the National Iron Mining Company (SOMIFER).

Dr. Diab has authored or co-authored more than 10 scientific publications, books, and abstracts, as well as several presentations at national and international conferences in the field of earth science. She has a great passion for geology and aspires to use it to improve the lives of people and communities.

Dr. Yousif Kharaka is a senior research hydrogeochemist (emeritus since, 2012) with the U.
S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California. As a Research Scientist at the University of California, Berkeley (1971-1995), and at USGS since 1975, he has been conducting field and laboratory geochemical investigations in the broad areas of water-gas-rock interactions in a variety of natural and contaminated systems. His current investigations cover naturally occurring organics, organic-inorganic interactions, CO2 sequestration in saline aquifers and depleted oil and gas reservoirs, remediation of contaminated agricultural drainage, environmental impacts of water produced with petroleum, and the role of fluids on the dynamics of the San Andreas Fault system.

Dr. Kharaka received his B.Sc. (honors) from Kings College, London, in 1963, and his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1971. He is currently an associate editor of Applied Geochemistry. Dr. Kharaka was the Secretary General for the Seventh International Symposium on Water-Rock Interaction (1992) and was the Chairman of the Working Group on Water-Rock Interaction of International Association of GeoChemistry (IAGC) from 2001 to 2007. He was also a Member of the AAPG Global Climate Change Committee (2007-2010).

Dr. Knesel holds degrees in Geology from The University of Queensland (PhD) in Australia and University of São Paulo (BSc) in Brazil, as well as an MBA in Finance from Rome Business School in Italy. She has over 13 years of experience in earth sciences, particularly in the areas of geochemistry, geochronology and petrology, and has conducted fieldwork on four continents. Dr. Knesel works for the Lhoist Group, currently managing the overall mine plan of an 8.5 Mt mine in Texas, following posts within Lhoist’s Global R&D and North American Mining & Exploration teams. She represented Australia as part of the YES Network Leadership Team until she moved to Belgium in 2013, and was the lead organizer of the 2nd World YES Congress, held within the prestigious 34th International Geological Congress in Brisbane in 2012 (with 6000+ attendees). She is a supporter and advocate for women in the mining and metals industry.

Mr. Alex Kwatampora Binego is a geoscientist, a geotechnical engineer, and a mining, and engineering geologist with 28 years of experience. He is the Executive Managing Director of Mpora Geo-Tech Consultants Ltd. in Uganda and has worked as a Senior Engineering Geologist-Geotech/Materials Engineer with Fichtner Gmbh & Co. Kg in Germany, as Project Manager of Kilembe Mines (copper and cobalt mine), as Senior Geologist and Transaction Advisor to DLA PIPER (USA), and as a Technical Consultant to M2 Cobalt Corp. (Canada) and JERVOIS Mining Ltd. (Australia)

He has an MSc in Geoscience (Geotechnical Engineering) from Atlantic International University, a BSc (Hons) in Mining/Engineering Geology, Diploma in Earth Science, Seismology Hazard Assessment and Risk Mitigation, from Middleham University and the University of Pretoria, and certificates in Mineral Resources Exploration, GIS & Remote Sensing (Korean Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Exploration, South Korea), Public Administration and Management (Makerere University, Uganda), Geophysics and Seismology (National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics, Egypt), Seismology, Nuclear Radiation, and Safety (Institute of Seismology, Nuclear Radiation, and Detection, Helsinki) and in Development Studies - Poverty Alleviation (Zhejiang University, China).

Alex is a member of the International Association for Promoting Geo-Ethics (IAPG # 2843), a Life member of the Geological Society of Uganda, and a member of the Uganda Seismic Safety Association, the Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists (AEG) and the Uganda Chamber of Mines & Petroleum (UCMP), as well as an ISO certified Auditor QMS 9005 – 2015.

Dr. Lyons is a Distinguished Professor, College of Arts and Sciences, School of Earth Sciences, and Senior Research Scientist at the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center, The Ohio State University. Lyons and his research group currently conduct research on three specific topics: 1. the biogeochemistry of Antarctic terrestrial/aquatic ecosystems and how they respond to climate change, 2. the interactions and rates of chemical weathering, erosion/sediment transport and carbon dynamics, especially in small, mountainous watersheds, and 3. the impact of urbanization, suburbanization and agricultural activities on water quality. He is a Fellow of GSA, AAAS and AGU. He has been the lead investigator of the McMurdo Dry Valleys Long Term Ecological Research program, one of the two Antarctic LTER sites funded by the National Science Foundation. Dr. Lyons is also a U.S. representative on the Geosciences Scientific Group of the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research (SCAR), and the former Director of the School of Earth Sciences, and the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center at OSU.

Dr. Francisco E. Nullo was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was a senior researcher at the National Geological Service (SEGEMAR) from 1967 to 1999, and a principal research scientist at Argentina’s National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET). He has carried out numerous investigations in regional geology, mining, environmental geology, volcanology and paleontology. He was a professor of Regional Geology at various universities in Argentina and Brazil: Buenos Aires, La Pampa, Rio Cuarto, Córdoba, Bahía Blanca and Rio Grande do Sul. More than 20 years ago, Dr. Nullo and his son founded Newphoenix SRL consulting, carrying out research in various specialties of applied geology. He participated as an expert in the UN’s seafloor mining program and was an advisor to the IDB in the Republic of Paraguay. Dr. Nullo has directed numerous research projects at Masters and PhD levels. He is currently studying the environmental conditions for the installation of numerous waste repositories in the country, financed by international credit organizations.

Mr. Samuel is a Vermont-based licensed professional geologist and science communication professional with a background in environmental consulting, regulatory compliance, and natural hazard mitigation. He holds a Master of Arts in Strategic Communication from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from the University of Arkansas Little Rock. Following eight years of environmental consulting work across a variety of industry sectors, Mr. Samuel joined the staff at the Geological Society of America where he has worked as a communications manager for the last decade. As a member of the GPI Board of Directors his goal is to help inspire and enhance public recognition of the critical importance of our science to societal needs and Earth stewardship. Mr. Samuel is also excited to propel GPI’s diversity, equity, inclusion efforts, and continue to honor social and cultural contexts as the organization works to advance global resilience and sustainability.

Mr. Wessel holds a BSc in Computer Science and a BSc in Psychology from Colorado State University. He is currently a Lead Firmware Engineer and Architect for Micron Engineering, where he develops non-volatile storage devices. In those moments when he is not working, he can be found backpacking, changing diapers, chasing toddlers, gardening, riding his dirt bike, or being tackled by his dogs. Mr. Wessel is well traveled and exceptionally versed in internet applications to marketing and development. He has also worked with a number of companies to maintain and upgrade their corporate computer systems, implemented predictive analytics, provided customer support for a variety of platforms and mobile devices, and worked with other scientists and engineers to develop new products for biological applications.