This year, the Helmuth-Burckhardt Prize, awarded by the German Raw Materials and Mining Association (VRB), was presented to young graduate engineer, Felix Heinrich, from Dresden/Germany, (Figure 1).
VRB, the professional umbrella association for the German mining industry, awarded the young academic his prize at the general assembly held on 11th October 2018 in Berlin. The Helmuth-Burckhardt prize has been awarded annually since 1971 for outstanding results in Master’s examinations in the subject of mining and mineral resources engineering, or in civil service final examinations. The prize is intended to give the winner the opportunity to gain further insights into international mining through the means of a research trip.
Felix Heinrich completed his degree in Geotechnology and Mining at Freiberg University of Mining and Technology over eleven semesters and achieved excellent results.
As a mining enthusiast, he studied the extraction of native raw materials in Germany, using in particular the examples of lignite extraction, potash mining and salt mining – in both surface and underground ore mining. Heinrich gained international experience during the course of a study visit to Vietnam, where he expanded his knowledge of coal, limestone mining, iron ore and mining on heavy mineral sands. He completed all of his placements while studying.
His volunteering and social contributions prior to and during his studies are to be highly commended, in particular his voluntary ecological year at Altenberg Mining Museum and at the Association of Germany Mining Engineers (RDB) regional society of the Freiberg Mining Academy.
Heinrich is currently completing his professional training in mining management at the Upper Mining Authority of Saxony.
The prize comes with a prize of 5,000 €, which, in accordance with the applicable statutes, must be used for a suitable mining research trip abroad within the next three years. (VRB/Si.)
