Mines for Limitless Minds: Showcasing education and career pathways in mining

At the University of Arizona (UArizona), the new School of Mining and Mineral Resources presented a first-of-its-kind event for students to get a glimpse into the diverse world of mining. Companies from across the United States came to the event to present their job and internship opportunities, personal experiences, and information about mining and the fascinating new technology used in the industry. Numerous UArizona departments, centers and institutes demonstrated how the university prepares talent and innovation for this exciting field. The event was open to all students of all majors, experiences and backgrounds, as well as industry and community members. One Arizona Department of Environmental Quality exhibitor told students to “put yourself out there.” The agency recruits from a diversity of areas, from environmental scientists and archaeologists to accountants. She said the more internships students do and the more connections students make the better, as it can really help when making career decisions and knowing what field they want to go into post-graduation. The mining industry is facing a shortage of talent across many disciplines, such as accounting, supply-chain management, industrial hygiene, Mines for Limitless Minds: Showcasing education and career pathways in mining by Ami Jones, University of Arizona environmental sciences and data science in addition to traditional fields such as mining and metallurgical engineering. “[ASARCO] has been around for more than 100 years,” said an ASARCO Grupo Mexico recruiter, and the company is one of the top producers of copper in the United States, a key resource for renewable-energy development. “You never know what kind of careers we’re looking for in the mining world,” the recruiter said. All degrees are needed, even those in business or government. Many students were intrigued to find their education was needed in mining. For example, a nursing student learned from the Lundin Group the value of knowledge of medicine within the mining industry. A student examining a mineral sample under a microscope at the Geosciences Department booth. Event features The School of Mining and Mineral Resources hopes to bring students, educators and industry together to innovate within the mining industry and think critically about modern problems to provide for a rapidly growing world. The event was organized into categories, including sustainability, student life, exploration and entrepreneurship, and technology, featuring dozens of exhibits and displays. The idea was to illustrate that mining has something for everyone. In the technology section, students were able to test-drive a simulator haul truck and dozer, and see what it is like to train to be on a mine site driving heavy equipment. “It’s limitless what you can do [in this industry],” said Freeport-McMoRan technical instructor Hector Guerra. Also on exhibit was a new app being developed by Nathalie Risso, assistant professor of mining and geological engineering, which uses artificial intelligence (AI) to detect whether individuals are wearing proper safety gear. Other exhibits included interactive software from Hexagon Mining, hardware from Canary Systems, and a virtual-reality (VR) headset to experience being in a mine. GroundProbe and the university’s Geotechnical Center of Excellence demonstrated modern radar systems and their role in monitoring slope stability, among other applications. In the sustainability area, students learned what companies are doing to help the environment and use new technology to protect biodiversity, implement Native American traditional ecological knowledge, and track water quality. Brian Lindenlaub, vice president and senior environmental consultant shared how WestLand Resources works directly with tribal members to implement their perspectives in consulting for a mine. “It really opens so many eyes to what is of interest and what the community cares about in all of these mine sites. We’re really proud of that … we’ve hired a number of folks from the various tribes around the state,” he said. Cactus Mine explained to students what “net zero” means in mining and how the company plans to get there. Florence Copper demonstrated in situ copper mining — something most students have never heard of. The industry is brimming with new technologies and innovations. For example, the university’s Center for Sustainable Mining showcased plants that mine. These plants were being used as an experiment to see what minerals they absorbed as an element in order to understand biodiversity and land resilience. The researchers hope to find out if in the future plants can be used to help clean mine sites, or perhaps extract materials in a more sustainable way, from the plants themselves. In the exploration and entrepreneurship area, companies like BHP and Hudbay demonstrated what it is like to search the globe for minerals, while the Lundin Group talked to students about raising funds to develop a mine. The university’s Lowell Program in Economic Geology featured highlights from field-mapping courses. Finding Opportunities and Resources to Grow Entrepreneurs (FORGE) introduced students to entrepreneurial education, and the Eller College of Management showcased how marketing is important for mining. A student test-driving the shovel simulator. Hervé Rezeau, assistant professor in the Geosciences Department, and students presented a variety of rocks and minerals. The student-life section was filled with student clubs and organizations from multiple disciplines, including Women in Mining, SME, Society of Economic Geologists, and Students for Sustainability, which featured an e-waste dropoff station educating students about recycling critical metals. “E-waste is electronic waste … that doesn’t work anymore … that you’d think to throw in the trash but you shouldn’t because it’s toxic, and the minerals inside are really valuable and can be recycled multiple times,” said Nicole Collins, waste reduction chair at Students for Sustainability and recipient of the new School of Mining and Mineral Resources scholarship award. The student organizations displayed what students can do with an education in and outside of mining, and opportunities they’ve been able to participate in, including the university’s San Xavier Mining Laboratory, which allows students to put their classroom knowledge to work in a real mine setting. Freeport-McMoRan hosted a table staffed by previous interns who are looking forward to new jobs with the copper giant and excited to share their internship experience with other students. “I learned so much [from my internship],” said Danielle Schroeder, environmental engineering major at UArizona and a Freeport-McMoRan intern. She explained that while most people do not connect environmental protection with mining, internships can teach students about how mining can be made more sustainable. “I learned how environmentally focused they are,” she said. To bring visiting students one step closer to a job in the industry, recruiters and volunteers from Freeport-McMoRan offered resume reviews and conducted mock interviews. To complete the student-life showcase, Caelen Burand, a student in geology and mining and geological engineering, conducted two live podcast episodes with Adam Hawkins, chief executive officer of global external relations, and Stephen Williams, vice president of corporate development and investor relations at Bluestone Resources. “Mining is unique because it creates value. It does not simply shift its location; it produces value for communities,” Hawkins said. Burand created the podcast “Our Resources” for new answers for the future. “The industry is siloed, and the conversations seem to be constant echoes. That said, there are brilliant people across the globe with exciting ideas for our future. I love investigating their ideas and understanding how we will use our resources … to create a better future,” he said. University mascot Wilbur Wildcat visited Stephen Williams at the Lundin Group booth. Welcoming the school’s newest recruits During the event, UArizona deans Carmala Garzione (College of Science) and David Hahn (College of Engineering) presented scholarships to four students from various disciplines, courtesy of Freeport-McMoRan, as they continue with a new minor in sustainable mineral resources. The minor is a new cross-disciplinary minor, and the school’s flagship academic offering. “The Mines for Limitless Minds event was so amazing. It was great to see so many different companies and student groups in one space sharing different aspects of mining and mineral resources,” said Nicole Collins, scholarship recipient and environmental studies major. Students had a great opportunity to get a glimpse into the world of minerals and were fascinated by the companies’ various processes and environmental considerations. “As a scholarship recipient, it was invigorating to see firsthand the excitement that Dean Garzione, Dean Hahn, Betsy Johnson from Freeport- McMoRan, and Jodi Banta [program manager at the School of Mining and Mineral Resources] have for the future of mining. I felt firsthand the impact of their investment in future mining professionals, through scholarships, time and connections,” said Isabel Baron, scholarship recipient and a double major in operations and supply-chain management and environmental studies. “It was such a pleasure to be picked as a scholarship recipient as a transfer student in my first semester, getting used to the pace and environment of the university. I really feel like the community around mining engineering has supported me all the way through my professors, events and advisors. Also, hearing from the dean that I was the first person to declare this minor gave me a sense of pride as a trailblazer for this amazing opportunity,” said Seth Kreinbrook, scholarship recipient and a mining and geological engineering major. Impact on industry and students “So many conferences are more social events where the exhibitors talk to each other, but here we really met a lot of students,” said Mark Baker, founding principal of Modular Mining and commercialization partner to the university’s Tech Launch Arizona. The industry members were excited to meet the students and talk about their own experiences in mining, and the value of diversity within the industry. “I’m from Globe-Miami,” said one Arizona Sonoran Copper Company exhibitor. “Never thought I would go into mining.” But after seeing the impact of economic development in her hometown, and the necessity of minerals in order for the world to “go green,” she wanted to be a part of the change. To make sure students did not miss the connection between mineral resources and a green economy, two electric vehicles, including a Ford F-150 Lightning truck, were on display along with a giant illustration of the minerals that make them. It was among the many educational features appreciated by the students and community members. “This event really captures the spirit of the new school,” Dean Garzione said. “The School of Mining and Mineral Resources is dedicated to highlighting the intersections between education, community and industry, and wants to prepare students for future careers in mineral resources.” Mineral resources matter. Students who visited with exhibitors learned the importance of minerals around them, and they got a firsthand look at the things minerals can do and the opportunities mining presents. Equally important, they were able to experience the great sense of community that is unique to mining. For information on becoming an exhibitor in next year’s event, contact Jodi Banta at jhbanta@arizona.edu.

Mines for Limitless Minds: Showcasing education and career pathways in mining

Authored by:
Ami Jones

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