THE WORLD LOOKS TO MINES

In 1874, when Colorado School of Mines became the first public university of the U.S. territory of Colorado, the name “Mines” signified research and education focused on the technologies that mattered most to jobs and economic prosperity. That focus hasn’t changed over the years as the world continues to look to Mines to bring the best minds together to solve the planet’s most pressing and complex challenges.

Policymakers and leaders from around the world count on Mines’ unbiased and relevant expertise. Our researchers bring together a deep understanding of areas such as worldwide supply chains, critical materials, manufacturing processes and product technologies, energy and environmental solutions, and more, bringing context and insights to their societal impacts. Designated as an R1 institution by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, Mines is a community of high research intensity, attracting top faculty and students to this team-oriented, interdisciplinary culture of research excellence.

At the core, it’s Mines’ agility in establishing and nurturing collaboration that allows the university to bring special advantages to its research. Through extensive partnerships with other universities, corporations, international entities and entrepreneurs and leveraging our proximity to the largest concentration of federal laboratories outside the Washington, D.C. area, Mines enables broad access to R&D capabilities, fostering technology transfer and innovation.

Mines, as ever, connects closely with industry today. Corporate funding makes up about 20 percent of Mines’ research volume, manifesting the university’s reputation as an ideal partner with industries in transition. Our portfolio of use-inspired research provides fertile ground for inventions and start-up companies, representing a pipeline of future opportunities for companies and investors.

in total research awards in FY22

$95M 32 1 shared instrumentation facility active research centers and industry consortia on campus

I find great inspiration in Mines’ spirit of innovation, our vibrant research partnerships and the unparalleled skill of our faculty and students. I hope you also will be inspired by the Mines research highlighted in this collection. Look to Mines for what is most important to you: great education, world-leading pragmatic expertise, policy insights, research collaborations, innovative technologies, investment opportunities and much more. We invite you to visit. Get to know the Mines of today—and partner with us to innovate for a better world.

Walter G. Copan Vice President for Research and Technology Transfer

Understanding critical materials deposits within the subsurface

Decarbonizing the metals industry

Understanding water’s role in climate change

Social responsibility in engineering, demystified

Finding the energy balance

Tackling the lithium supply chain

Green hydrogen: Empowering the future of energy

Cracking open enhanced geothermal energy

6 | SUSTAINABILITY

How can we overcome critical challenges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, preserve natural resources and promote sustainable development and engineering?

14 | ENERGY

How can we help the world meet growing energy demands and diversify the U.S. and global energy portfolios?

Harnessing data to discover and design materials

Customizing additive manufacturing for materials R&D

3D-printed metal parts take a dip

Teaching robots how to think and share information

Concrete solutions to infrastructure challenges

Bridging the interoperability gap in cities Protecting infrastructure and privacy research.mines.edu mines.edu/news

President

Paul C. Johnson

Vice President for Research and Technology Transfer

Walter G. Copan

28 | ADVANCED MANUFACTURING

What new technologies and systems can we develop to promote a robust and sustainable manufacturing R&D infrastructure?

36 | INFRASTRUCTURE

With national and global systems becoming more complex and interconnected, how can this infrastructure be strengthened or redesigned to be more secure?

Director of Materials and Energy Initiatives

Michael Kaufman

Director, Research Development

Lisa Kinzel

Director, Technology Transfer

Will Vaughan

Research Compliance Officer

Scot Allen

Shared Instrumentation Facility Director

David Diercks

Research Proposal and Development Manager

Alyssa Von Lehman Lopez

Editor

Ashley Spurgeon

Contributing Writers

Jenn Fields

Sarah Kuta

Jasmine Leonas

Jen A. Miller

Ashley Piccone

Emilie Rusch

Ashley Spurgeon

Anna Squires

Photography

Agata Bogucka

Cyrus McCrimmon

Graphic Design

Gretchen Kershner