Adán Pino: “Discovery is a team effort. Without communities and environmental focus, there is no discovery”
ProEXPLO 2026 will feature a 3rd International Student Competition and a section for early-career geologists, aiming to promote young talent and geoscientific research for sustainable mining, partnering with institutions like the Colorado School of Mines.
The president of proEXPLO 2026 highlighted the key role of collaboration between geologists, communities, and environmental management in mineral exploration.
Lima, November 27, 2025.- Discovery no longer depends solely on geological work, but on an ecosystem of actors that ensure the social, environmental, and operational conditions necessary for a project to advance, said geologist Adán Pino, president of the 15th International Congress of Prospectors and Explorers (proEXPLO 2026).
Pino emphasized that modern mineral exploration is only possible when professionals, communities, and environmental specialists work in close coordination. “Discovery is done by a team. And not just a human team of geologists. It also includescommunity liaisons, environmental compliance officers, and those who support day-to-day operations,” he said in an interview with Chile’s Reporte Minero y Energético on Radio Duna.
The geologist, with over 20 years of experience, stressed that ignoring environmental management or community engagement is “unthinkable,” as both are essential, not complementary, components of the exploration process. “I can have all the mineral resources I want in the ground, but if I cannot exploit them, their value is zero. To move forward, I must maintain a good relationship with communities (…) Today, all teams involved in exploration understand that sustaining positive community relations is extremely important,” he asserted.
Tomorrow’s Geologists Pino also called for strengthening the skills and participation of new generations to ensure the continuity of the industry, noting that the demand for technical and professional talent in exploration continues to grow.
“There is a significant need for workforce, especially in exploration. The new generations will be essential to sustain the engine of discovery,” he said.
As part of this effort, Pino highlighted that proEXPLO 2026 will feature a special section for young professionals: the 3rd International Student Competition, an initiative aimed at promoting young talent and fostering geoscientific research as a driver of sustainable mining development. “For this edition of proEXPLO, we are forming partnerships with important institutions such as Colorado School of Mines and the Society of Economic Geologists. Within the event, there will be a dedicated section for early-career geologists, giving young professionals direct access to experienced experts who can guide them on the best path to develop their careers in mineral exploration. We need to train the explorers of the future,” he concluded.