The Elements of Innovation Discovered
The Elements of Innovation Discovered
Metal Tech News - July 17, 2024
Established in 1885, South Dakota Mines is a top university for science, technology, engineering, and math.
Lauren Fritz, a mining engineering researcher at South Dakota Mines, stands beside a large water truck used for dust suppression at mining operations.
Looking to help bolster the domestic production of minerals and metals essential to clean energy, high-tech, and everyday living, South Dakota Mines is offering two new minors that will prepare students to tackle critical mineral challenges.
"We have a need in the United States for these materials. If it can't be grown, it must be mined," said Andrea Brickey, a professor in the Department of Mining Engineering and Management at the mining school that has been around since 1885.
Over the past 140 years, South Dakota Mines has seen a lot of changes to America's mining industry, including an increasing reliance on China and other nations for its supply of minerals and metals critical to manufacturing smartphones, electric vehicles, household appliances, military hardware, and a wide array of other essential products.
"We haven't done new significant domestic mining since the 1980s," said Jon Kellar, professor of materials and metallurgical engineering and the team lead for the new mining programs at South Dakota Mines. "The mining industry continues to decline because we are not educating people about the changes and needs."
Kellar says the United States needs to dramatically increase its exploration, mining, extraction, and processing of critical minerals.
These various stages of the mining cycle will be included in a new two-part program offered by South Dakota Mines. One facet will focus on exploration and development – discovering critical minerals and getting them out of the ground – while the second delves into processing and extraction – turning the minerals into the metals that can be used by American manufacturers.
"Through these new minors, students will develop their problem-solving skills and create new ways to reduce environmental impacts and increase mining safety," Brickey said.
"It's a national need, and Mines students will get on the inside track to understand the importance of these critical minerals and contribute to solving the problems," added Christopher Pellowski, an instructor in the Department of Geology and Geological Engineering at South Dakota Mines.
In addition to providing students with problem-solving skills needed to tackle America's critical mineral challenges, attracting students to the two new minors will also help fill the nation's massive mining workforce shortage.
Lauren Fritz, a mining engineering researcher at South Dakota Mines, stands beside a large water truck used for dust suppression at mining operations.
According to the Society of Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration, more than half of the nation's current mining workforce, about 221,000 workers, is expected to retire by 2029.
"We are taking a lot of initiatives to develop a knowledgeable future workforce. These students will make an important and positive impact on our country," said Rudrajit Mitra, an associate professor in the Department of Mining Engineering and Management at South Dakota Mines.
These initiatives could get a boost from the Mining Schools Act of 2023, legislation championed by senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.) that would establish a grant program for mining schools in the U.S.
The Senate unanimously passed the bipartisan mining schools legislation on July 10.
With more than 16 years of covering mining, Shane is renowned for his insights and and in-depth analysis of mining, mineral exploration and technology metals.
Reader Comments(0)