World-leading critical minerals expert awarded OBE

One of the world’s foremost experts on critical minerals and mining, Professor Frances Wall, has been awarded an OBE in the New Year’s Honours List, it has been announced.

The Professor of Applied Mineralogy at the Camborne School of Mines, based at the University’s Penryn Campus in Cornwall, received the award for “services to Geoscience and Sustainable Resource Development”.

Speaking on receiving the honour, Professor Wall said: ‘I am delighted to have been named for this award. It is wonderful to have this recognition of geology and mineralogy and its importance in today’s world. I would like to recognise all the colleagues and friends I am lucky enough to work with who also contribute so much.”

Professor Wall one of the world’s most respected leaders in her field, specialising in technology raw materials, and in particular geology and process mineralogy of rare earth elements – vital in the push for global decarbonisation.

Professor Wall connected her geological research interests to wider issues of mining, responsible sourcing and circular economy, and has worked worldwide with academic and industry colleagues, to help produce the minerals we need in ways consistent with sustainable development.

Closer to home, Professor Wall has been much involved in the opportunities for the sustainable development of geological resources – tin, tungsten, lithium and geothermal energy –  in Cornwall and wider South-West England, helping to accelerate the business opportunities but also make sure that everyone will benefit.

This has resulted in a UKRI-funded £5.6 million applied research initiative called the Critical Minerals Challenge Centre, for which Professor Wall is lead investigator. Co-created with industry, civic and NGO partners, research focuses on accelerating innovation in critical minerals to support the UK’s transition to Net Zero.

In recent years. Professor Wall has been a leading light in developing Camborne School of Mines’ pivotal role in the UK’s strategy to secure the supply chains of critical minerals.

This included contributing to the 2022 expert committee for the first UK Critical Minerals Strategy, Resilience for the Future as well as the new Vision 2035: Critical Minerals Strategy that was launched during a Government visit to Penryn Campus in November.

Frances teaches at Camborne School of Mines and was its first female Head from 2008-2014. She is also a former President of the Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland, decarbonisation working group member for the Geological Society of London,  former President of the Cornish Institute of Engineers and currently President of the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall.

Professor Wall is also a governor of Truro and Penwith College in Cornwall.

Professor Wall was named one of the 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining 2016 and awarded the William Smith medal of the Geological Society of London for applied and economic aspects of geology in 2019.

Professor Lisa Roberts, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Exeter, paid tribute to Professor Wall on receiving the award. Professor Roberts said: “I would like to congratulate Professor Wall on this much-deserved honour, which recognises her truly world-leading research and expertise in critical minerals. 

“Professor Wall is not only a leading light at the world-famous Camborne School of Mines, driving innovation within the sector, but also provides crucial insight and expertise for the Government and the UK’s Critical Minerals Strategy.  We are all extremely proud of her achievements, and this honour is richly deserved.”