Rennie Kaunda, associate professor of mining engineering, said cracks and leaks can be red flags for dam stability, requiring consistent monitoring and identification of the root cause.

Anna Littlefield, carbon-capture program manager at the Payne Institute for Public Policy, said the oil and gas infrastructure is similar to the infrastructure required for carbon capture operations.

Anna Littlefield, low carbon energy program manager with the Payne Institute for Public Policy, and Morgan Bazilian, director of Payne, authored this opinion piece looking at Google's new investment into carbon capture.

Melissa Krebs, associate professor of chemical and biological engineering, is interviewed about the advanced wound-healing gel she created to help burns and hard‑to‑heal wounds recover more effectively.

Morgan Bazilian, director of the Payne Institute for Public Policy, co‑authors this article examining how magnesium underpins U.S. defense capabilities and why reviving domestic magnesium production is critical for national security.

Quihua Huang, associate professor of electrical engineering, says burying power lines is significantly more expensive than using overhead lines, which is a key reason most lines in Colorado remain above ground.

Jason Slowinski, associate vice president of infrastructure and operations, explains how he led the effort to keep Mines’ graduation ceremony on track by running it on power from an emergency generator.

Qiuhua Huang, associate professor of electrical engineering, explains why high winds led Xcel Energy to shut down parts of the electrical grid in the west Denver metro area.

Tom Brady, professor of practice in economics and business, explains the economic forces that are driving up the price of gold.

Morgan Bazilian, director of the Payne Institute for Public Policy, co‑authors this piece examining the heavy reliance on diesel generators to power data centers and the implications for the AI‑driven digital economy.

The Applied Science and Technology Research Organization of America has formalized partnerships with Mines and the University of Guam to establish a Mines satellite campus on Guam focused on additive manufacturing, offering the island’s first mechanical engineering degree.

Elizabeth Holley, associate professor of mining engineering, is cited for her August 21, 2025 Science article documenting how U.S. mine waste contains significant quantities of critical minerals and precious metals.

Lori Tunstall, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, discusses the environmental benefits of a new type of concrete she and her students are developing.

Mines senior Nathan Spalding discusses how his student‑run snow removal business is finally looking up thanks to a forecast calling for the Denver metro area’s first significant storm of the season.

Adrienne Marshall, assistant professor of geology and geological engineering, explains what forecasters are watching and how rising temperatures are reshaping the future of snow in the western United States.

Eric Anderson, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, explains that his study found evaporation over the Great Lakes is driven more by atmospheric and weather conditions than by the amount of ice on the lakes’ surface.

Arielle Koshkin, doctoral candidate in hydrological science and engineering, explains that increased sunlight and reduced snow reflectivity after wildfires both contribute to earlier snowmelt in western forests.

Ian Lange, professor of economics and business, says coal's trajectory depends less on politics and more on electricity demand growth, which remains uncertain.

Mines President Paul C. Johnson says he supports the Mines Academy model because it gives students the confidence, clarity and connections they need to reach Mines and thrive in their careers.

Sebnem Duzgun, professor of mining engineering, describes how mining operations are shifting toward autonomous haul trucks, including supersized vehicles reshaping mine productivity and safety.

Mines President Paul C. Johnson shares why the university is enthusiastic about launching the Mines Academy at Arapahoe Community College to strengthen transfer pathways for engineering and STEM students.

Christopher Higgins, professor of civil and environmental engineering, discusses the presence of PFAS chemicals in pesticides and medications and highlights their potential environmental and health implications.

John Spear, professor of civil and environmental engineering, explains what developers of the proposed Denver Broncos stadium are likely to encounter as they remediate environmental contamination at the Burnham Yard site.

Thomas Albrecht, professor of chemistry, discusses the compact nuclear reactor technology being considered for Denver International Airport and contrasts its safety profile with older, larger nuclear reactor designs.

Morgan Bazilian, director of the Payne Institute for Public Policy, co‑authors this article highlighting how multiyear, multibillion‑dollar equipment backlogs driven by data centers, industrial electrification and new capacity projects are straining the power grid.

A $4.3 million endowment from Kiewit Corp. and Chairman Bruce Grewcock will fund a program chair to lead Mines’ new Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering program.

Ian Lange, professor of economics and business, explains that because of the unique challenges in space, the asteroid mining industry may need to develop entirely new methods compared with those used to mine on Earth.

Frankie Zhu, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, and Jason Slowinski, associate vice president of infrastructure and operations, discuss Waymo’s rollout of autonomous cars in Denver and Mines’ previous experience operating an autonomous shuttle service on campus.

Students in Blue Key Honor Society, the custodians of Mines' mountainside emblem, recently changed the M to light up as a bat to celebrate Halloween.

Morgan Bazilian and Brad Handler of the Payne Institute for Public Policy, Ian Lange, professor of economics and business, and student researcher Andrew Bauman authored this opinion piece on the potential impact of the U.S. government's renewed push into rare earths investment.

Ian Lange, professor of economics and business, said he thinks the U.S. and its allies can make significant progress in a year's time to lessen China's dominance of the rare earths market.

Ian Lange, professor of economics and business, discusses the potential for a rare earth processing plant in New Hampshire.

Elizabeth Holley, associate professor of mining engineering, discusses how mine waste can be processed to fulfill part of the country's need for critical minerals.

Hundreds of costumed youngsters and their families stopped by the Mines Museum of Earth Science for the fifth annual Spooktacular, a candy-free event that emphasizes STEM-based activities and goodies.

Morgan Bazilian, director of the Payne Institute for Public Policy, co-authors this piece that argues that as utilities race to meet the energy appetite of the AI economy they are quietly transferring part of that burden to the public.

Ian Lange, professor of economics and business, notes that creating the infrastructure for critical minerals mining and processing facilities presents the U.S. and Australia with many challenges.

Ian Lange, professor of economics and business, explains that silver's importance is magnified because the metal is used in a myriad of consumer and industrial goods.

Eric Anderson, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, said the Great Lakes are primed to see a higher possibility of lake effect snow because of higher water temperatures.

Arielle Koshkin, doctoral candidate in hydrologic science and engineering, discusses her study that demonstrated snow melts more quickly in burned forests.

A Mines study published in Science Magazine that found the U.S. can find most of the critical minerals it needs in the waste piles from existing mines is referenced.

Walter Copan, vice-president for Research and Technology Transfer, said the majority of university technology transfer offices and start-ups lose money because many discoveries do not lead to marketable products, and those that do can take a decade.

Margaux Basart, a graduate student in quantum engineering, discusses why she is excited about pursuing a career in the quantum arena.

Frankie Zhu, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, discusses the challenges a driver-less Waymo taxi will have when it attempts to traverse ice and snow on Denver's streets.

Matt Sares, senior geothermal specialist with the Colorado Geological Survey at Colorado School of Mines, said the chemistry of the water in hot springs will reflect which rocks it has passed through.

Zack Bennett, director of The Beck Venture Center, discusses Infinite Outdoors, an app started by Sam Seeton, a petroleum engineering program graduate, that allows landowners to be compensated by members of the public who wish to cross their land so they can access nearby public land.

Mark Jensen, professor of chemistry, says more private money is flowing into nuclear projects than he has seen over the past 35 years.

Lori Tunstall, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, and her company, Zero-Twelve, are the focus of this article about using biochar in an effort to make cement more climate friendly.

Corby Anderson, director of the Kroll Institute for Extractive Metallurgy, discusses the challenges created by how long it takes to permit a mine in the United States.

Ian Lange, professor of economics and business, discusses the U.S. government's investment in the Thacker Pass lithium mine in Nevada.

Ian Lange, professor of economics and business, said that even though the U.S. government is taking an equity stake in specific mining companies he doesn't believe the government will take over the mining operations.

Kirsten Volpi, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Mines, noted The Village at Mines Park was designed to provide a safe, welcoming and connected community that supports academic achievement and personal well-being.

Mines students, staff and alumni celebrated Homecoming by painting pumpkins, roasting marshmallows, running along Clear Creek and packing into the Marv Kay Stadium stands.

Connor Denney, a PhD candidate in electrical engineering, and Logan Pauli, master's graduate in quantum engineering, created a quantum amplifier company, Bifrost, that has secured $4 million dollars in seed funding.

Brennan Sprinkle, assistant professor of applied mathematics and statistics, recently induced microspheres called Dynabeads to assemble into a quasicrystal.

Lief Ritter, senior majoring in chemical engineering, says he was proud to display his award-winning pumpkin in front of Mines' Guggenheim Hall.

Arthur Lakes Library is named the 2025 Federal Depository Library Of The Year by the U.S. Government Publishing Office.

Ian Lange, professor of economics and business, notes that China is hard to compete with in the copper arena due to state support.

Morgan Bazilian, director of the Payne Institute for Public Policy, discusses demand for EV's and how that impacts the international lithium market.

Leif Ritter, senior in chemical engineering, explains how he grew a 1,579 pound pumpkin using strategies he learned through his studies at Mines.

Elizabeth Holley, associate professor of mining engineering, is quoted about her study published in Science that demonstrated much of the United States' critical minerals demand could be satisfied through reprocessing mine waste.

Ian Lange, professor of economics and business, discusses the challenges associated with mining coal that is on land with split, public and private, ownership.

Lesley Sebol, groundwater program manager for the Colorado Geological Survey, and Matt Sares, senior researcher for the Colorado Geological Survey, discuss the aquifers in Southern Colorado.

Lesley Sebol, groundwater program manager for the Colorado Geological Survey, and Matt Sares, senior researcher for the Colorado Geological Survey, are interviewed about the connection between ground water and surface water.

Saeed Memari, post doctoral fellow in civil and environmental engineering, argues in his Water Resources Research article that groundwater flux can play an outsized role in modulating ice formation and melt in large freshwater systems.

Justin Shaffer, associate dean and teaching professor in chemical and biological engineering, is interviewed about how he structures student exercises to reduce busy work and boost engagement.

Frankie Zhu, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, discusses how her lunar lab at Mines can inform us about the challenges robo cars will have driving through the snow.

Jennifer Miskimins, professor and department head of petroleum engineering and incoming 2026 Society of Petroleum Engineering president, welcomed attendees to the SPE International Hydraulic Fracturing Technology Conference and Exhibition in Muscat, the capital city of the Sultanate of Oman.

Colorado School of Mines ranked 80th among universities nationally in U.S. News & World Report's annual higher education ranking. Mines ranked 40th among public universities.

Ryan O'Hayre, professor of metallurgical and materials engineering, says practical hydrogen storage systems need to be stable for more than 1,000 cycles. He added that the chemical and mechanical stability of the electrodes, electrolytes, and their interfaces over the course of thousands of charging cycles remains unproven.

Two universities in Colorado were ranked among the top 100 in the nation in U.S. News & World Report's 2026 Best Colleges rankings. Colorado School of Mines was No. 80 while the University of Colorado was No 97.

KOA radio host Ross Kaminsky talks with Brandon Dugan, professor and associate department head in geophysics and Baker Hughes Chair in Petrophysics and Borehole Geophysics, about his discovery of fresh water under the ocean near Martha's Vineyard.

Ian Lange, professor of economics and business, explains that demand for copper is being driven by surging electricity needs.

Arielle Koshkin, doctoral candidate in hydrologic science and engineering, and Adrienne Marshall, assistant professor of geology and geological engineering, led a study published in Science Advances that concluded snow melts more quickly in forests that have been burned by wildfire.

Mark Jensen, director of the Nuclear Science and Engineering Program, explains why small modular nuclear reactors would have a lower risk of meltdown than traditional reactors.

John Spear, professor of civil and environmental engineering and quantitative biosciences and engineering, notes that the time it takes to cleanup contaminants at the new Broncos stadium site will depend on what scientists find when they analyze the environmental hazards found there.

Brandon Dugan, professor and associate department head of geophysics and Baker Hughes Chair in Petrophysics and Borehole Geophysics, discusses why finding fresh water under the ocean could matter to communities around the globe.

Morgan Bazilian, director of the Payne Institute for Public Policy, says the public/private partnership that has formed around the firm MP, the largest U.S.-based rare earth company, is a game changer.

Brandon Dugan, professor and associate department head of geophysics, is the co-chief scientist on Expedition 501, an international research expedition that found fresh water under the ocean floor off the coast of New England this summer.

Brandon Dugan, professor of geophysics at Colorado School of Mines, joined WBUR's All Things Considered to discuss the eureka moment of discovering a massive reserve of fresh water under the ocean floor off the coast of Cape Cod this summer.

Chris Higgins, professor of civil and environmental engineering, is quoted about the discovery of PFAS in Boulder County.

Brandon Dugan, professor of geophysics, discusses his research on the presence of fresh water trapped under the ocean.

Kyle Leach, professor of physics, authors this article that considers a new type of laser that would use a beam of neutrinos instead of light.

Kyle Leach, professor of physics, says there would be a huge payoff if scientists could accomplish their goal of creating a neutrino laser.

Brandon Dugan, professor of geophysics, is interviewed about his study, funded by the National Science Foundation. Dugan's research involves the examination of an aquifer containing fresh water that stretches from New Jersey's coast to as far north as Maine.

Sabre Cook, 2017 mechanical engineering graduate, returns to Mines to talk to students about her car racing career. Cook says what she learned as a mechanical engineering student helps her better understand, and discuss with her race team, the mechanics of how her car is performing in competitions.

Ron Cohen, emeritus associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, is quoted about radium showing up in flood waters. Cohen said exposure to low levels of radium happens to everyone, but exposure to high levels of radium will cause cancer.

Anna Littlefield, geothermal and carbon capture utilization and storage program manager at the Payne Institute for Public Policy, says that there's isn't a "hard cutoff" for how deeply carbon can be buried in an attempt to keep it out of the atmosphere.

Chris Dreyer, professor of practice in mechanical engineering, is interviewed for this article focusing on a company's plan to mine for Helium-3 on the moon. Helium-3 is primarily used in security scanners to detect neutrons from nuclear bombs or smuggled radioactive material.

Elizabeth Holley, associate professor of mining engineering, and Priscilla Nelson, professor of mining engineering, co-authored this guest column on their study that revealed the U.S. could obtain nearly all the critical minerals it needs through the re-processing of mine waste.

Jennifer Miskimins, professor of petroleum engineering and department head of earth and society programs, is interviewed about her perspective as incoming president of the Society of Petroleum Engineering.

Quantum Commons, owned by Colorado School of Mines, opens in Arvada. At a ceremony attended by Colorado Governor Jared Polis, officials from the corporate park unveiled a new job board focused on quantum-focused positions.

Paulo Tabares-Velasco, associate professor of mechanical engineering, has partnered on an effort to make 16 manufactured homes in Lake County, Colorado more energy efficient. Tabares-Velasco's team installed heat pumps and induction stoves, which run on electricity instead of fossil fuels.

Paul C. Johnson, Mines president, is quoted about the opening of the Quantum Commons campus in Arvada. Mines owns and operates the business park where quantum companies can set up their operations.

A study led by Elizabeth Holley, associate professor of mining engineering, is the focus of this article. Holley's study, originally published in the journal Science, focused on the critical minerals that exist in the waste streams of U.S. mining operations.

Maxwell Brown, assistant teaching professor in economics and business, and Angeline Letourneau, visiting teaching assistant professor in humanities, arts and social sciences, are interviewed about Xcel Energy's plans and how they could impact the utility's customers' bills.

Morgan Bazilian, director of the Payne Institute for Public Policy, co-authors this column looking at the role critical minerals play in the defense arena.

Angel Abbud-Madrid, professor of practice in mechanical engineering and the director of the Center for Space Resources, discusses the university's involvement with the development of a moon rover. The rover has been tested in a lab at Mines that contains simulated moon dirt, called lunar regolith.

Morgan Bazilian, director of the Payne Institute for Public Policy, notes a significant shortage of skilled workers in the energy, infrastructure, construction, manufacturing, advanced technology, and mining sectors could slow growth.

Elizabeth Holley, associate professor of mining engineering, is quoted about her study, published in the journal Science. The study examined the critical minerals that exist in mine waste being generated by mining operations in the U.S.

Freshmen and new graduate students to Mines carried on the tradition of bringing 10-pound rocks from their homes and placing them in the "M" that resides on Mount Zion. Stefani Tompkins, new Mines provost, is interviewed about the significance of the three-mile hike up to the mountain that happens at the beginning of every fall semester.

Elizabeth Holley, associate professor of mining engineering, led a study looking at obtaining critical minerals from currently-generated mine waste. With just a few exceptions, the study concluded the U.S. could obtain all the critical minerals it needs through the processing of its mine waste.

Elizabeth Holley, associate professor of mining engineering, led a study that looked at the potential of harvesting critical minerals from the waste streams at current U.S. mining operations. The study found that the U.S. could get most of the critical minerals in requires through this strategy.

A new study, published by the journal Science and led by Elizabeth Holley, associate professor of mining engineering, concluded that the U.S. could get most of the critical minerals it needs by processing the waste streams at current U.S. mining operations.

Chris Higgins, AMAX Chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering, explains that while the research is still emerging, the risk of eating wild game and fish tainted with forever chemicals is likely comparable to consuming domestic livestock.

Lesley Sebol, manager of the Groundwater Resources Mission Area for the Colorado Geological Survey, called the detection of contaminants at a seep downhill from the spill "significant."

Mark Jensen, professor of chemistry, discusses Denver's decision to study the feasibility of utilizing a small modular nuclear reactor for Denver International Airport. Jensen says that it's likely 5 to 10 years before the U.S. will have its first operating nuclear reactor of this type.

Mark Jensen, professor of chemistry, sat down with 9NEWS to discuss the pros and cons of putting a small modular nuclear reactor at DIA. Jensen sees many pros to the idea, including it having a small footprint, providing consistent and abundant power, and being carbon neutral. On the cons side he said a nuclear reactor would be expensive.

Jack Walters, a recent Mines alum, is CEO of Hapware. The firm is using haptic technology to create a device that allows the blind to interpret facial expressions. Walters said his company is also connecting with other communities, including people who are neurodiverse, to discover how the device can be helpful to them as well.

Thomas Albrecht, professor of chemistry and Grandey Chair in Nuclear Science and Engineering, discusses Denver International Airport's feasibility study focused on using a small modular nuclear reactor to power the airport.

Thomas Albrecht, professor of chemistry and Grandey University Chair in Nuclear Science and Engineering, discusses with Denver7 Denver International Airport's plan to study the feasibility of powering the facility with a small modular nuclear reactor.

Sam Seeton, a Mines alum and CEO of Infinite Outdoors, is interviewed about his app that allows outdoor enthusiasts to connect with private property owners so they can access public lands that border private property.

Anna Littlefield, program manager for low carbon energy technologies with the Payne Institute for Public Policy, says that valuing enhanced oil recovery equally with carbon storage could divert more investment into those companies doing enhanced oil recovery and less from the companies doing pure storage.

Morgan Bazilian, director of the Payne Center for Public Policy, co-authors this article about how the rise of economic nationalism and the return of territorial conquest as a normalized tool of statecraft is impacting the international critical minerals market.

Morgan Bazilian, director of the Payne Center for Public Policy, co-authors this opinion piece about the Russian-Ukraine war and the conflict in Gaza.

Mary Elliott, executive director of residence life and auxiliary services, talked to the Golden Transcript about the opening day for students to move into the new Village at Mines Park. The community for upperclassman and graduate students includes five large new apartment buildings as well as 19 newly-renovated smaller apartment buildings.

Brandon Dugan, professor of geophysics, discusses the drilling expedition he's leading this summer off the coast of New England to study the freshwater system that lies deep beneath the ocean floor.

Colorado School of Mines was the only Colorado university to receive 4.5 stars or make any of Money magazine's "best of" lists. In Money's latest ranking, Mines was recognized as one of the best colleges in the west as well as one of the best public colleges in the U.S.

Enrique Chon, a geologist with the Colorado Geological Survey located at Colorado School of Mines, explains why it's so difficult to predict the size of a tsunami. The wave generated by the recent Russian earthquake wasn't nearly as big as feared.

Elizabeth Reddy, assistant professor in the Department of Engineering, Design and Society, is quoted expressing her disappointment that Google's earthquake early warning system failed to accurately alert people during Turkey's deadly quake of 2023.

Rod Eggert, research professor of Economics and Business, says that the likelihood of any of the new U.S. rare earth projects reaching the production stage is low because of the challenges inherent in the arena.

Colorado high school teachers demonstrate their newly-learned robotics skills after completing a 6 week course at Mines on robotics and AI.

Corby Anderson, professor of mining engineering, said in terms of deep sea mining for critical minerals the U.S. is decades behind China, and it's going to be very hard to catch up.

Rod Eggert, research professor of economics and business, explains that China's attempt to clean up the mining and processing of rare earths ironically resulted in a black market for less expensive rare earths that were smuggled out of the country. These smuggled rare earths were obtained and processed with little regard for the environment.

Mines doctoral student Connor Denney and recent Mines graduate Logan Pauli are among the founders of a new firm focused on making quantum amplifiers. The company will soon move to Quantum Commons, a 70-acre business park in Arvada managed by the consortium Elevate Quantum.

Morgan Bazilian, director of the Payne Institute for Public Policy, says the U.S. government's decision to invest in creating a domestic supply chain for rare earth minerals is a game changer.

Richard Luarkie, director of the Native American Mining and Energy Sovereignty program at the Payne Institute for Public Policy, envisions a future where tribes and the U.S. government can work together toward a positive energy future for tribes and the country generally.

Chris Higgins, AMAX Chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and a host of other Mines PFAS experts, hosted a PFAS media event at the Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs. The Mines officials explained the work being done at the base to discover the best way to capture and destroy the "forever chemicals."

Ian Lange, professor of economics and business, notes that because copper is used in such a wide variety of products, increases in the price of the metal can cause a general inflation in prices.

Mines researchers are comparing the performance of a variety of PFAS technologies that are aimed at recovering and destroying the "forever chemicals." A demonstration day at Peterson Space Force Base allowed the news media a chance to learn about the work

Hapware, an application developed by Mines students and alums, is designed to allow persons who are visually impaired or neuro-diverse to be able to interpret facial expressions. Hapware utilizes a camera installed in glasses and a vibrating wristband.

Morgan Bazilian, director of the Payne Institute for Public Policy, says the U.S. losing domestic smeltering would translate into the country losing the ability to produce critical minerals.

Eric Anderson, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, said a significant change in air pressure combined with high wind speeds can lead to a meteotsunami wave. While traditional tsunamis are caused by seafloor movement like earthquakes, meteotsunamis are caused by fast-moving weather conditions like thunderstorms.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis visits the Mines campus to discuss a new program where new dorms are being built with the help of student apprentices. It's part of a state program that connects students with hands-on training.

In the wake of the U.S. attack on nuclear sites in Iran, Thomas Albrecht, professor of chemistry, discusses that country's efforts to refine uranium. Albrecht says there's no non-military rationale for the Iranians to refine the mineral to 60 percent.

Morgan Bazilian, director of the Payne Institute for Public Policy, says that despite a volatile situation in the Middle East, drilling levels aren't likely to change because there hasn't been a significant change in the oil supply and demand equation.

Dylan Domaille, an associate professor in the chemistry, said demonstrating that bacteria can turn plastic waste into something useful could motivate efforts to make breaking down plastics more scalable and sustainable.

Stephen Sonnenberg, professor of geology and geologic engineering, says the U.S. has at least a 100 year supply of natural gas. He says that supply could double as alternative energy sources kick in.

Nicole Smith, associate professor in mining engineering, says people who have lived around mining activity previously are "cautiously optimistic" about the impact of a new focus on critical minerals mining. She said boom and bust cycles and associated environmental degradation are a cause for the mixed feelings people have.

Simon Lomax, who leads the methane emissions reduction program at the Payne Institute for Public Policy, co-authors this guest column about why methane reductions are more than just good for the environment.

Jeff King, professor of metallurgical and materials engineering, advised against cutting the counterterrorism program that provides nuclear and radiological detection equipment and training to protect against terrorist attacks.

The Korean Broadcasting Service's long feature examining quantum developments across the globe devotes a lot of attention to Mines' quantum work. Mines shows up first at about 35 minutes into the program.

Jennifer Miskimins, professor and department head of petroleum engineering at Colorado School of Mines, discusses the challenges faced by U.S. universities in recruiting students to study petroleum engineering, geology, mining engineering and more.

Column by Molly Morgan, PhD candidate in geology; Brad Handler, head of the Payne Institute's Energy Finance Lab; and Elizabeth Holley, associate professor of mining engineering, details how The Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2024 gives the Environmental Protection Agency authority to issue up to 15 pilot permits that allow qualified third parties to clean up legacy mine pollution without assuming legal liability for contamination they did not cause.

Rod Eggert, research professor of economics and business, says substitutes for magnets made from rare earth minerals are less efficient. China is the nearly exclusive source for these magnets.

Omid Beik, assistant professor, Electrical Engineering, is quoted in this article examining the state of the West's electrical grid.

Morgan Bazilian, director, Payne Institute for Public Policy, and Alex Gilbert, fellow with Payne, co-authored this analysis. They write that "the rules-based global order is under siege at sea."

Less than two years after Electrical Engineering student Yahir Chairez-Salazar's was injured in a crash, he's back on the wrestling mat for the Orediggers. Chairez-Salazar lost his leg in the car accident, but not his desire to be competitive in wrestling.

Morgan Bazilian, director, Payne Institute for Public Policy, authored this column that argues quantum is critical to US tech leadership and that ignoring it risks economic, scientific, and national security setbacks.

Colorado School of Mines professor Jessica M. Smith and University of Washington-Bothell professor Nora Kenworthy, a Golden High School Class of 2000 graduate, were among this year's recipients of the Andrew Carnegie Fellowship.

The Denver Gazette conducted an exclusive interview with Ian Lange, professor of economics and business at Colorado School of Mines, Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon, Kelly Caufield, executive director of CSI, and Adam Eckman, president and CEO.

"Nobody has done a direct study of these offshore groundwater systems," said Brandon Dugan, the co-chief scientist on the expedition and a professor at the Colorado School of Mines. "It's exciting for the Island and the region, and exciting globally."

John Spear, professor of civil and environmental engineering, warns that the subsurface may not be equipped to handle the chemicals from fracking and could spread them unpredictably.

Golden Hills residents have been working with the Neighborhood Rehab Project, Colorado School of Mines students and staff, and a local housing development company to design a first-of-its-kind modular home that's affordable, sustainable and scalable.

Shiling Pei, professor of civil and environmental engineering at Colorado School of Mines, comments on the potential of Superwood in seismic applications, noting the importance of connection performance in wood structures.

Christopher Higgins, professor of civil and environmental engineering at Colorado School of Mines, discusses emerging technologies aimed at breaking down PFAS, or "forever chemicals," highlighting the global research efforts to effectively eliminate them.

Alexandra Nickle, who graduates May 9 with a bachelor's degree in mining engineering, leads tours of the Edgar Experimental Mine in Idaho Springs.

Pejman Tahmasebi, associate professor of petroleum engineering, discusses how detailed mapping of land subsidence can inform groundwater management and urban planning to mitigate infrastructure risks.

Shiling Pei, professor of civil and environmental engineering, highlights the uncertainties surrounding the seismic performance of tall mass timber buildings as Japan updates its codes for high-rise construction.

Ian Lange, associate professor of economics at Colorado School of Mines, expresses skepticism about the effectiveness of the Pentagon's AI model in predicting metal prices.

Fred Sarazin, head of the Physics Department and director of quantum at Mines, discusses the advantages of studying quantum materials in the Colorado Underground Research Institute, or CURIE.

Mike Mooney, Grewcock Chair Professor of Underground Construction & Tunneling, and Paul Santi, professor of geology and geological engineering, discussed the geophysical and technical challenges of repairing sinkholes on Route 80 in New Jersey.

Anna Littlefield, program manager for Low Carbon Energy Technologies at Payne Institute for Public Policy, authored this opinion piece. Littlefield says the U.S. is leading internationally in the carbon capture arena.

Ian Lange, associate professor, Economics and Business, says that while China has a corner on the refining of rare earth minerals currently, the U.S. could ramp up its capability to refine the minerals.

This article details the findings from Payne Institute for Public Policy's Accelerated Methane Reduction Symposium conducted at Mines on March 6th and 7th. It's authored by Morgan Bazilian, director of the institute, Greg Clough, deputy director at the institute, and Simon Lomax, director of the institute's Accelerated Methane Reduction Initiative.

Christopher Higgins, professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, an early researcher of contaminants in sewage sludge, said there wasn't yet an established, cost-effective way of cleaning up a vast area of farmland contaminated with PFAS.

Tzahi Cath, professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, is spotlighted. Cath's team built a mobile laboratory inside of a trailer. Cath has driven the lab, called the PureWater Colorado Direct Potable Reuse (DPR) Mobile Demonstration, around Colorado since 2021, showing wastewater treatment plants that they too can turn their effluent into potable water.

This article about World Quantum Day, April 14, 2025, discusses the investments Colorado is making in quantum. Mines' involvement in the Elevate Quantum consortium is referenced. Quantum Commons, a 70-acre site in Arvada, is owned/operated by Mines and is being developed with Elevate Quantum to accelerate growth of the quantum industry and workforce.

Mark Jensen, professor, Chemistry and the Jerry and Tina Grandey Chair in Nuclear Science and Engineering, discusses the appointment of Tim Walsh to be assistant secretary of energy for the Office of Environmental Management. Jensen says Walsh's background managing complex projects should prove helpful as he takes on this new role.

Reporter Corinne Westeman at the Golden Transcript writes up a summary of the Mines 2025 E-Days celebration. The article includes some photos from the always exciting Prom Dress Rugby competition.

This story on World Quantum Day, April 14, 2025, includes background on a new quantum laboratory being built in the Edgar Experimental Mine near Idaho Springs, CO. The mine, owned by Colorado School of Mines, serves an underground laboratory for future engineers and research.

The Ore Cart Pull is a signature event during Mines' E-Days. Students walk all the way down Colfax Avenue to the State Capitol, some 7 miles.

DENVER7 squeezed in coverage of Mines' Cardboard Boat Race on Clear Creek. The boats are built of cardboard and duct tape can only be used to hold the crafts together, not for waterproofing.

The Denver Gazette reported that boats were "collapsing all over the creek" during the exciting Cardboard Boat Race. The fact that the boats have to be made of cardboard might explain some of the structural failures that occurred once they were introduced to Clear Creek.

FOX31 reported on Mines' Cardboard Boat Race, a big part of the annual E-Days celebration. E-Days stands for Engineering Days. The 2025 celebration marked the 91st edition of Engineering Days at Mines.

CBS4 spotlighted the annual Mines' Cardboard Boat Race. This year the race benefitted from great weather, bringing out an especially big crowd for the engineering competition.

9NEWS caught up with Mines students as they participated in the annual Cardboard Boat Race that is part of E-Days. This year more than 100 teams participated in the always popular event.

Robert Braun, professor, Mechanical Engineering, noted that as electricity prices increase, the energy savings are greater for people who have installed solar panels on their homes.

Tom Brady, professor of practice, Economics and Business, discusses how China could use its leadership position in the rare earth minerals arena as leverage as it negotiates tariffs with the United States.

The NEXT with Kyle Clark program on 9NEWS asked Mines students participating in the E-Days Ore Cart Pull "what's your good news?"

Morgan Bazilian, director of the Payne Institute for Public Policy, discusses falling oil prices. Bazilian says a weakening economy, like the U.S. is currently experiencing, will drive oil prices down.

Timm Strathmann, professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, believes that although the new process is innovative, environmental and economic analysis will be required before the method is ready for commercial development.

Ian Lange, associate professor, Economics and Business, is interviewed on how U.S. mining companies are reacting to tariffs coming out of the Trump administration. Lange said that some mining firms have been lobbying for the tariffs, but that the result of the new taxes may not be positive for them.

Ian Lange, associate professor, Economics and Business, is interviewed about oil prices. He notes that recent price drops impact the U.S. more because it is, thanks to the shale revolution, the largest producer of oil.

Corby Anderson, Harrison Western Professor of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, discusses the history of treating calcopyrite to make copper.

Longtime Golden resident John Akal shares his love for Mines' upcoming western-themed E-Days and details what's planned for the 2025 E-Days.

Todd McLean, managing director, Business Enterprises, Mines Foundation, said about $3 million has been raised so far for the Mines Venture Fund I and he hopes to add $7 million more by the end of the year.

Morgan Bazilian, director of the Payne Institute for Public Policy, explains that minerals are vital for energy transition and that only through the domestic production of the minerals will the U.S. obtain the security it is seeking.

In this opinion piece, Morgan Bazilian, director of the Payne Institute for Public Policy, and Brad Handler, program manager for Payne's Energy Finance Lab, discuss the role that private investors and lenders play in the production of critical minerals.

Morgan Bazilian, director of the Payne Institute for Public Policy, provides context about the challenges of establishing a mining sector.

Morgan Bazilian, director of the Payne Institute for Public Policy, discusses how the administration could take action on its own.

Morgan Bazilian, director of the Payne Institute for Public Policy, along with his co-authors, discusses the United States' new interest in minerals located in Greenland.

Raphael Deberdt, a postdoctoral researcher in mining engineering, explains how the current economic system incentivizes resource extraction over reuse and reduction of resource consumption.

Morgan Bazilian, director of the Payne Institute for Public Policy, discusses the challenge posed by China's dominance in the processing and refining of ores.

Paul Santi, professor of geology and geological engineering, talks about the varied causes of sinkholes.

Ian Lange, associate professor of economics and business, explains that we're only currently able to estimate the technological hurdles of asteroid mining.

Ian Lange, associate professor of economics and business, explains how the threat of tariffs are driving copper prices.

Yaoguo Li, professor of Geophysics, discusses how Mines has a unique combination of expertise from both the mining industry and oil and gas industry to advance geologic hydrogen exploration and stimulated hydrogen monitoring.

Morgan Bazilian, director of the Payne Institute for Public Policy, is interviewed about how a new presidential administration's focus is likely, or not likely, to have a longterm impact on how we use and produce energy, or protect the environment. Bazilian says the longterm change is likely to be small because of the immense size of the industry.

Paul C. Johnson, Mines president, is quoted in this article about Mines' new program guaranteeing admission for Jeffco students who meet specific criteria. Johnson notes that by providing a guaranteed admissions pathway, Mines is ensuring that Jeffco students who demonstrate excellence in STEM have the opportunity to pursue a world-class education while staying close to home.

Morgan Bazilian, director of the Payne Institute for Public Policy, discusses with Colorado Matters Host Ryan Warner why the whole world seems to be focused on critical minerals at this time. Bazilian notes that agencies and countries have their own critical minerals lists, and the lists vary.

Golden High School students enrolled in a senior capstone class discuss their work and Mines' newly announced program to guarantee Jefferson County high school students admission to Mines if they meet specific criteria. Completing a senior capstone class meets part of the requirements for guaranteed admission.

Elizabeth Holley, associate professor of mining engineering, explains that each nation has its own list of critical minerals, but they are generally made up of rare earths and other metals like lithium. She says demand is booming - in 2023, demand for lithium grew by 30%. This is being driven mostly by the rapid growth in the clean energy and electric vehicle sectors.

Jeffco Public Schools officials and students express support for the new program guaranteeing admission to Mines for Jeffco students who meet specific requirements. Currently about 150 new Jeffco students enroll at Mines each year.

Mines and Jeffco Public Schools announce new program that goes into effect in 2026. Jeffco students queried about guaranteed admission to Mines for STEM-focused students who meet specific requirements were enthusiastic about the offering.

Segment discusses a just announced, first of its kind agreement between Jeffco Public Schools and Mines that guarantees admission to Mines for Jeffco students who meet specific requirements.

Ian Lange, associate professor, Economics and Business, is quoted. "If the problem was that we don't have the dirt, that would have been solved already," said Lange. "It's a financial thing. It's an economic thing. China is a cartel; all their firms act together to lower prices. Their goal isn't profit maximization."

"The bold vision for moving forward with domestic mining is certainly there," said Morgan Bazilian, professor of public policy at the Colorado School of Mines, adding that the permitting reform will be key.

John Jechura, professor of Practice, Chemical and Biological Engineering, is quoted in this story examining the implications of new tariffs being placed on petroleum products from Canada. Jechura said that the tariffs make it possible Coloradans will see higher prices.

Morgan Bazilian, director of the Payne Institute for Public Policy at Mines, is quoted in this article on Ukraine's critical minerals and rare earth elements. "The media and even parts of the administration are using the term incorrectly," Bazilian says, referring to rare earth elements. "The point is that rare earths are not really and should not be the focus of any Ukraine deal. The country itself, I don't believe, has ever produced rare earth."

Ian Lange, associate professor of Economics and Business, is quoted. When it comes to rare earths, for example, only China has the technology to separate and turn them into the metals the US seeks, said Lange. "The US does not have a separations facility," he said. "So, I guess you could say this might be the first step along a path towards more independence from China, but there's still a lot more to walk."

Morgan Bazilian, director of the Payne Institute for Public Policy at Mines, is quoted. Bazilian cautioned that competition is keen for next-generation experts, noting that 100% of its students get multiple job offers. "If we don't find ways to make [geothermal] exciting, we will fail to train the workforce of the future we need," he said.

Ian Lange, an associate professor of economics and business at Mines, is interviewed for this National Public Radio program. "People have called (gas) a bridge fuel, because it (has a) lower CO2 content than coal. It's pretty flexible in terms of its operations," Lange said.

On the hunt for burial sites in Templeton Cemetery in Woodland Park, four students from Mines applied 21st century technology to uncover 19th century graves. With ground penetrating radar, electromagnetic device and a GPS system, the students found clues to graves of the city's pioneers who contributed to the development of Woodland Park.

The goal of the three-year program is to bring energy efficiency to low-income families and communities. Paulo Tabares-Velasco, Mines associate professor of mechanical engineering and the project's lead researcher, is quoted.

Morgan Bazilian, director of the Mines Payne Institute for Public Policy, co-authored this article outlining the challenges associated with a minerals deal being negotiated with Ukraine. The agreement would obligate Ukraine to pay 50 percent of the proceeds from the "future monetization of all relevant Ukrainian Government-owned natural resource assets" to a fund that the two countries would co-own.

The blood drive is conducted to honor Jennifer Rotramel-Ronhovde, a member of the Sigma Kappa Zeta Pi chapter who died from leukemia. The drive, now in its 12th year, is done to raise awareness about leukemia and help those like Rotramel-Ronhovde find donors.

Mines' Sigma Kappa Zeta Pi chapter's stem cell donation drive is profiled. The drive is conducted in honor of Mines alumna Jennifer Rotramel-Ronhovde, who was diagnosed with leukemia in 2011. The annual drive is done to raise awareness about leukemia and help those like Rotramel-Ronhovde find donors.

Rod Eggert, deputy director of the Critical Materials Innovation Hub at Mines, is quoted in this article examining Ukraine's critical minerals. "Ukraine has significant mineral potential, but how large that potential is, we simply don't know," said Eggert.

Morgan Bazilian, director of the Payne Institute for Public Policy at Mines, is quoted. This "is one of the only areas of sort of rough bipartisan agreement, that is that these minerals and metals are crucial for energy, but also national security and consumer goods and the overall economy," said Bazilian. "They feature heavily in the economic war between China and the United States."

Angel Abbud-Madrid, professor of practice in Mechanical Engineering and director of the Center for Space Resources at Mines, is interviewed by Tamara Chuang. "Lowering the cost is key," Abbud-Madrid said. "The moment you lower (the cost of) access to space, things are going to start happening. Just like on Earth. It has been so expensive that only a few countries have gone and only about 600 people have gone out to space."

The project "Design and Prototyping of a 9-phase Dual-Rotor Motor for Supersonic Electric Turbofan" will work on a scaled-down prototype for an electric turbofan for supersonic aircraft. The Mines team includes lead Mahzad Gholamian as well as Garret Reader, Mykola Mazur, and Mirali Seyedrezaei, with faculty mentor Omid Beik, assistant professor of Electrical Engineering.

Shifts in the industry have already been driving change in the board rooms of oil and gas companies, said Jennifer Miskimins, department head for Petroleum Engineering at Mines and the incoming President for the Society of Petroleum Engineers. "A lot of the mergers of companies have been because they're buying inventory, so they have places to go outside of what they currently have," Miskimins said.

"By precisely measuring the behavior of lithium atoms produced in the decay of beryllium, we gain direct access to quantum properties of neutrinos, particles that are notoriously difficult to detect," said Kyle Leach, associate professor in Physics. Leach and Joseph Smolsky, a postdoctoral researcher, published their findings in the Feb. 13 issue of Nature.

Morgan Bazilian, director of the Payne Institute for Public Policy at Mines and one of the world's top experts on critical mineral supply chains, explained to members of the House Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources that minerals are foundational to the economy and national security.

Ian Lange, associate professor, economics and business, is interviewed about the impact of tariffs on Canadian oil imported to the U.S. The Trump administration has put a 30-day pause on such tariffs, but Colorado could still see impacts if the administration eventually decides to press play.

Eric Anderson, associate professor, civil and environmental engineering, is quoted in this Newsweek article focusing on a recent satellite image that revealed the aftermath of a brutal cold snap that gripped Chicago between January 19 and 24, leaving Lake Michigan covered with ice. Anderson said improved ice measurements could enhance weather forecasting and provide valuable insights into changes in Earth's surface freshwater systems.

Jeffrey Ackerman, associate teaching professor in mechanical engineering who studies load carrying, is quoted in this BBC piece. "Our bodies are adapted to carrying our own body mass, then when you add a lot of weight, you really need to be doing strength training in a consistent way to grow your bigger load-carrying muscles," Ackerman said.

In this Letter in the journal Science, a number of Payne Institute associates discuss how energy resources on tribal lands should be utilized to the benefit of the tribes that own the land. Payne Institute authors include Richard Luarkie, director, Native American Mining and Energy Sovereignty Initiative (NAMES); Richard Tallman, program manager, NAMES; Brooke Bowser, communications associate; and Morgan Bazilian, Payne director.

Chris Dreyer, director of engineering at Mines' Center for Space Resources, is quoted in this article about Helium-3. The gas is needed to achieve the cold temperatures required by quantum computers. The article discusses mining the moon to obtain additional quantities of the precious and expensive substance.

A first of its kind dilution refrigerator is being built in Mines' Labriola Innovation Hub. When operating, the Big Fridge can achieve a temperature as cold as any place in the known universe.

The first of its kind Big Fridge being built by Maybell Quantum in Mines' Labriola Innovation Hub is designed to house a quantum computer and provide the machine with the extremely cold environment it needs to operate.

Eric Anderson, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, discusses the findings of his new study, recently published in Environmental Research Letters.

Paulo Tabares-Velasco, associate professor of mechanical engineering, explains why keeping the blinds and drapes closed can help keep more heat in your home in this Next with Kyle Clark segment.

Mines PhD student Sam Saiter talks about why he got into quantum engineering in this segment, filmed in the quantum clean room on the Mines campus.

Brad Handler, program director of the Energy Finance Lab at the Payne Institute for Public Policy, discusses the methodologies used for methane emissions and how they may change in the future in this article.

Christopher P. Higgins, professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, is quoted in this article that notes levels of PFAS in sewage sludge used as fertilizer can pose risks that sometimes exceed EPA safety thresholds by several orders of magnitude.

The temperature change between two nearby locations is remarkably consistent, said Nathan Lenssen, a climate scientist at the Colorado School of Mines and the National Center for Atmospheric Research. "When it's 2 degrees warmer than normal in Denver, it's going to be 2 degrees warmer than normal at the top of Bear Peak."

A group of partners that includes Colorado School of Mines, Elevate Quantum, University of Colorado, and Colorado State University is opening a startup incubator for quantum technology companies in Boulder.

Morgan Bazilian, director of The Payne Institute for Public Policy, is quoted in this radio piece. In his final days as president, Joe Biden has promised to ban drilling in more than 600 million acres off the coast of the western U.S. Meanwhile, Donald Trump has promised to undo the ban, as well as much of Biden's climate and conservation efforts.

Eric Anderson, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering and co-author of the study, explains that Lakes Superior and Erie saw the biggest drop in winter days, close to three weeks of winter each.

Molly Morgan, a Geology PhD candidate, is quoted in this article examining the impact of a new law recently signed by President Biden.

Mines graduate student Ken Liang and alum Chris Tolten built a prototype of a lunar grid and presented it during a recent competition run by NASA. The prototype worked – and Chris and Ken won a half-million-dollar prize to continue developing their idea.

Opinion column by Molly Morgan, a Geology PhD candidate, and Mining Engineering professors Elizabeth Holley and Nicole Smith. They write that getting legislation through Congress was a critical step forward in addressing one of the nation’s longest-standing environmental challenges.

This University of Colorado newsletter piece features a Q & A with Adrienne Marshall, a computational hydrologist and assistant professor in geology/geological engineering, about her new drought study.

This article discusses the Colorado School of Mines' additive manufacturing-focused partnership with the University of Guam.

Jenifer Shafer, the Ben L. Fryrear Presidential Chair and professor in the Chemistry Department and Nuclear Science & Engineering Program, predicts that Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) will become an important part of the nation's energy infrastructure.

Richard Luarkie, director of the Native American Mining and Energy Sovereignty Program at the Payne Institute, said the Trust reflects what is possible when consultation leads to sustained collaboration.

The National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology met at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden to take a deep dive into the critical minerals arena.

The article profiles Mines alum Maria Angela Capello, masters in geophysics (1995), and her work in Venezuela and Kuwait. Capello credits Mines with teaching her the leadership skills she needed to serve as general manager of numerous oil fields.

Adrianne Kroepsch, associate professor of humanities, arts, and social sciences, has found that the first anniversaries of catastrophic wildfires were the most promising periods for tough policy conversations in local media outlets.