Overview
Background
Professor Daniel Franks is Director of the Global Centre for Mineral Security at the University of Queensland’s Sustainable Minerals Institute and is an Australian Research Council Future Fellow. Professor Franks is known internationally for his work on the interconnections between minerals, materials and sustainable development, with a particular focus on the role of minerals in poverty reduction. He has introduced a number of key concepts in development studies including ‘mineral poverty’, ‘mineral security,’ and ‘development minerals;’ and has worked with a wide range of public and private sector partners to implement breakthrough sustainability innovations, such as OreSand to drastically reduce mine waste, and ‘social impact management plans,’ a regulatory tool now adopted throughout the world.
He is the author of more than 160 publications, including 37 publications for the United Nations. His research has appeared in journals such as Nature Sustainability and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and is available in 11 languages. He is an Editorial Board Member of the International Journal of Minerals Policy & Economics, as well as Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal and has field experience at more than 100 mining and energy sites and 40 countries.
Availability
- Professor Daniel Franks is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science, The University of Queensland
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, Griffith University
Research impacts
Professor Franks was Chief Technical Advisor at the United Nations Development Programme; is a member of the scientific board of UNESCO’s International Geosciences Programme; is an advisor to UN Secretary General’s Working Group on Transforming the Extractive Industries for Sustainable Development; supported the United Nations Environment Programme to implement the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-4) Resolution on Mineral Resource Governance; and was a working group member of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network that provided technical advice on the formulation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. He was the reciepient of The University of Queensland's Research Impact Award in 2022 with Julia Keenan.
The grandson of an artisanal miner, in 2018 he Chaired the First International Conference on Artisanal and Small-scale Mining and Quarrying, which was opened by the President of Zambia, and he spearheaded the ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya Declaration on Artisanal and Small-scale Mining, Quarrying and Development,’ ensuring it reflected the voices of informal miners. He subsequently supported the establishment of the Delve Exchange knowledge network of artisanal and small-scale miners with the World Bank, which was awarded a Global Good Award for Educational Excellence in 2023. His research was publicly cited by the Chief Operating Officer of the International Council on Mining and Metals as “academic research that has changed the mineral industry.”
Works
Search Professor Daniel Franks’s works on UQ eSpace
2012
Other Outputs
Governance strategies to manage and monitor cumulative impacts at the regional level
Franks, Daniel M., Everingham, Jo-Anne and Brereton, David (2012). Governance strategies to manage and monitor cumulative impacts at the regional level. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, University of Queensland.
2012
Other Outputs
The social dimensions of charcoal use in steelmaking: Analysing technology alternatives
Weldegiorgis, Fitsum and Franks, Daniel M. (2012). The social dimensions of charcoal use in steelmaking: Analysing technology alternatives. Cluster research report 2.7 Brisbane Australia: The University of Queensland.
2012
Journal Article
Robots, red dust, and the future of mining towns
McNab, Karen and Franks, Daniel M. (2012, 03 14). Robots, red dust, and the future of mining towns
2012
Other Outputs
Social impact assessment of resource projects
Franks, Daniel M. (2012). Social impact assessment of resource projects. Mining for Development: Guide to Australian Practice, Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, International Mining for Development Centre.
2012
Book Chapter
Reopening and developing mines in post-conflict settings : The challenge of company-community relations
Boege, Volker and Franks, Daniel M. (2012). Reopening and developing mines in post-conflict settings : The challenge of company-community relations. High-value natural resources and post-conflict peacebuilding. (pp. 87-120) edited by Päivi Lujala and Siri Aas Rustad. London, U.K.: Earthscan.
2012
Conference Publication
Mineral and energy futures: implications for technology and policy in producing and consuming countries
Giurco, Damien, Franks, Daniel, McLellan, Benjamin and Prior, Timothy (2012). Mineral and energy futures: implications for technology and policy in producing and consuming countries. 10th International Conference on EcoBalance (EcoBalance 2012), Yokohama, Japan, 20-23 November 2012. Yokohama, Japan: Institute of Life Cycle Assessment.
2012
Book Chapter
Reopening and developing mines in post-conflict settings: the challenge of company-community relations
Boege, Volker and Franks, Daniel M. (2012). Reopening and developing mines in post-conflict settings: the challenge of company-community relations. High-value natural resources and post-conflict peacebuilding. (pp. 104-137) edited by Päivi Lujala and Siri Aas Rustad. London, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781849775786
2012
Other Outputs
Mine site rehabilitation in Sierra Leone – A rapid appraisal of selected sites
Franks, Daniel and Erskine, Peter (2012). Mine site rehabilitation in Sierra Leone – A rapid appraisal of selected sites. Brisbane Australia: Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation.
2011
Journal Article
Research funding does not have to equal industry bias
Franks, Daniel M. (2011, 10 19). Research funding does not have to equal industry bias
2011
Book
Investigating constructive technology assessment within the Minerals Down Under Flagship: Interview results.
Franks, Daniel M. and Cohen, Tamar (2011). Investigating constructive technology assessment within the Minerals Down Under Flagship: Interview results.. Cluster Research Report 2.2. Brisbane, Australia: The University of Queensland.
2011
Other Outputs
The foundations for responsible mining in Cambodia – Suggested approaches
Browne, Warwick, Franks, Daniel M. and Kendall, Glenn (2011). The foundations for responsible mining in Cambodia – Suggested approaches. United Nations Development Programme Cambodia : Policy Brief Cambodia: United Nations.
2011
Journal Article
The sticky question of Libya's oil
Franks, Daniel and Boege, Volker (2011). The sticky question of Libya's oil. The Drum
2011
Other Outputs
Quantitative approach to improving the business of biodiversity investment: final report
Barrett, Damian, Sonter, Laura, Almarza, Anthony, Franks, Daniel M., Moran, Chris, Cohen, Tamar and Hedemann, Chris (2011). Quantitative approach to improving the business of biodiversity investment: final report. ACARP Project Number: C17030 Brisbane, Australia: Centre for Water in the Minerals Industry, Sustainable Minerals Institute, University of Queensland.
2011
Journal Article
Emptying Queensland's flooded mines
Franks, Daniel (2011). Emptying Queensland's flooded mines. The Drum.
2011
Conference Publication
Social performance indicators at the Collahuasi copper mine, Northern Chile
Franks, Daniel M., Malhue Gonzalez, Luciano, Acuña Maturana, Mauricio, Araya Canelo, Katherine and Freiburghaus, Christine (2011). Social performance indicators at the Collahuasi copper mine, Northern Chile. First International Seminar on Social Responsibility in Mining, Santiago, Chile, 19 - 21 October 2011. Santiago, Chile: SRMinning.
2011
Book Chapter
Cumulative social impacts
Franks, Daniel M., Brereton, David and Moran, Chris J. (2011). Cumulative social impacts. New directions in social impact assessment: Conceptual and methodological advances. (pp. 202-220) edited by Frank Vanclay and Ana Maria Esteves. Cheltenham, Gloucester, U.K.: Edward Elgar Publishing.
2011
Conference Publication
Brave new mine: Examining the human factors implications of automation and remote operation in mining
Horberry, Tim, Lynas, Danellie, Franks, Daniel M., Barnes, Rodger and Brereton, David (2011). Brave new mine: Examining the human factors implications of automation and remote operation in mining. Second International Future Mining Conference, Sydney, Australia, 22 - 23 November 2011.
2011
Conference Publication
Environmental offsets: understanding cost/benefit trade-offs at the landscape scale
Barrett, D. J., Wettle, M., Sonter, L. J., Franks, D. M. and Almarza, A. (2011). Environmental offsets: understanding cost/benefit trade-offs at the landscape scale. Sustainable Development Conference 2011 (SD2011), Mackay, Australia, 24-26 October 2011.
2011
Conference Publication
Environmental and social geology approach for sustainable development of porphyry copper deposits
Mollehuara Canales, Raul, Edraki, Mansour and Franks, Daniel M. (2011). Environmental and social geology approach for sustainable development of porphyry copper deposits. Enviromine 2011 - 2nd International Seminar on Environmental Issues in the Mining Industry, Santiago, Chile, 23-25 November 2011. Santiago, Chile: Gecamin.
2011
Conference Publication
Monitoring social progress in mining zones: the case of Antofagasta & Tarapacá, Chile
Parra, Cristian and Franks, Daniel M. (2011). Monitoring social progress in mining zones: the case of Antofagasta & Tarapacá, Chile. First International Seminar on Social Responsibility in Mining, Santiago, Chile, 19 - 21 October 2011. Santiago, Chile: SRMinning.
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Daniel Franks is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Waste Clays from the Mining Sector as Raw Material for Low Carbon Cements
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Vinh Dao, Dr Paul Rogers
-
Doctor Philosophy
Assessing the economic dimensions of mineral security for poverty reduction
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Shabbir Ahmad, Dr Paul Rogers
-
Doctor Philosophy
Impacts of mining for renewable energy transition on biodiversity
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Laura Sonter
-
Doctor Philosophy
Waste reduction by co-producing ore-sand from energy-critical metals
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Christian Antonio, Dr Juliana Segura-Salazar
-
Doctor Philosophy
Low-carbon cement adoption in the Pacific
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Vinh Dao, Dr Pratheep Kumar Annamalai
-
Doctor Philosophy
Low-carbon cement adoption in the Pacific
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Pratheep Kumar Annamalai
-
Doctor Philosophy
Incorporating mineral security into multi-dimensional poverty assessments
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Lynda Lawson, Dr Paul Rogers
-
Doctor Philosophy
Ore-sand: A circular and sustainable solution for a low-carbon future
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Louise Gallagher, Dr Juliana Segura-Salazar
-
Doctor Philosophy
The making of responsible cobalt
Associate Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Lessons from company-community conflicts in mining.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Deanna Kemp
-
Doctor Philosophy
Mitigating the biodiversity impacts of extracting Australia's energy transition minerals
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Laura Sonter
-
Doctor Philosophy
The making of responsible cobalt
Associate Advisor
Completed supervision
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Utilising Inter-Sectoral Linkages with the Extractive Sector for Economic Transformation in Africa and Australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Shabbir Ahmad
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Engaging Artisanal and Small-Scale Miners of Development Minerals in Public Infrastructure Projects: The Case of Uganda
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Adjunct Professor Adil Khan, Dr Vlado Vivoda
-
2015
Doctor Philosophy
Uranium Companies and Traditional Owners: Negotiating the Intersection of Risk and Rights
Principal Advisor
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
Steering Social Impact Outcomes in Extractive Resource Regions: A Comparative Case Study of Private Meta-governance in Australia and the United States
Associate Advisor
-
2015
Doctor Philosophy
Coal Seam Gas Development and Community Conflict: A Comparative Study of Community Responses to Coal Seam Gas Development in Chinchilla and Tara, Queensland
Associate Advisor
-
2015
Doctor Philosophy
Transforming Andean Space: Local Experiences of Mining Development in Peru
Associate Advisor
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Daniel Franks directly for media enquiries about:
- Community engagement - mining
- Community relations - mining
- Mine waste policy
- Mine-community conflict
- Mines and tailings
- Mining
- Mining policy
- Resource conflict - mining
- Resource governance - mining
- Social impact assessment - mining
- Sovereignty and consent - mine resources
- Sustainable development
- Tailings - mines
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