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The Richard Osman Memorial Fund will support 40 scholars over a 20-year period.

Scholarship programme established in honour of Mining alumnus

Richard Osman (MSc Mining Geology, 1999), a graduate of the Camborne School of Mines (CSM), has been honoured posthumously by friends and former colleagues who have set up a scholarship scheme at his alma mater.

The Richard Osman Memorial Fund will provide funds to train the next generation of young mining professionals and will support 40 scholars over a 20-year period. Two students will be funded each year to follow in Richard’s footsteps and study on the prestigious MSc Mining Geology course at CSM. 

Richard grew up in Wales before coming to Cornwall to complete his Masters. Richard then worked in the mining industry in Australia, Africa and the Middle East. Whilst working with Centamin plc in Egypt Richard was one of the main driving forces behind the Geology and Mining department that that took the Sukari gold mine to a resource of +15moz Au with a production profile that now ranks in the top 20 gold mines in the world.   

In May 2016 Richard lost his life in a plane crash at just 40 years of age.

£700,000 has been raised from individual and corporate donors including Centamin, Capital Drilling, Altus Strategies, and Ariana Resources. Their generosity will create a generation of distinguished Richard Osman Scholars

Vice-Chancellor of the University of Exeter, Professor Sir Steve Smith said: “We are incredibly grateful to all the donors who have made this scholarship programme possible.

“2018 marks the 25th Anniversary of CSM’s incorporation into the University of Exeter. The Camborne School of Mines was founded with the support of philanthropic donations and has benefitted from such support throughout its history. We are proud to be able to honour the memory of Richard in this way and genuinely moved that alumni and friends are have shown such generosity in the founding of these scholarships.”

Professor Kip Jeffery, Head of Camborne School of Mines, said: “At CSM we remember Richard as a genuinely lovely man. Incredibly dedicated, with a real passion for his work and a commitment to his friends and family.

“These scholarships – his legacy – will have an enormous impact on mining students. There are many talented individuals who struggle to fund fees and maintenance costs, and very few available bursaries. These full scholarships will ensure that the very best students are able to achieve their potential and pursue an international career in mining.”

The University of Exeter will also honour Richard’s memory with the establishment of the Richard Osman Teaching Room on its Penryn campus.

Find out more and apply for 2018 Richard Osman Memorial Fund Scholarships.

Date: 5 June 2018

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