The key to advancing future technologies lies with one of the world’s oldest industries.

That message may sound counterintuitive at first glance, but Kate Johnson, a mining engineering student at Missouri University of Science and Technology, said it makes perfect sense.

Johnson, a senior from Saint Charles, MO, shared her insights as part of a Missouri S&T article series focusing on the 2024 National Engineers Week theme, which is “Welcome to the Future.”

“It is true that mining has a past that extends for several thousands of years,” she said, “but miners continue to play a major role in advancing society. The resources we extract are vital for the development of future technology.”

For example, she said that electric vehicle batteries require multiple critical minerals for their production, such as nickel, lithium and cobalt. Touch screens, which are now standard on cell phones and many other devices, typically rely on indium, which is also a critical mineral.

The Energy Act of 2020 defines critical minerals as nonfuel minerals vital to the nation’s economic or national security. Many of these minerals are in short supply in the United States, and Johnson said mining engineers must continue to work to address this shortage so the country has the technological resources necessary to compete in a global society.

“There is an old saying that if you can’t grow something, it has to be mined,” said Johnson. “There will always be a large need for mining, and each generation of miners will continue to make mining safer, more efficient and more environmentally friendly.”

Mine safety and efficiency have been some of Johnson’s areas of interest at S&T and while working in internships. In the future, she looks for the industry to adopt even more autonomous equipment, which should lead to less human error and potential for injuries, as well as increased productivity.

Although Johnson says she is eager to play her part in shaping the future of her industry, she also embraces mining’s past and the lessons that can be learned from it.

Since arriving at Missouri S&T, she has competed on award-winning S&T mucking teams, which participate annually on the world stage in the Intercollegiate Mining Competition and take part in challenges such as jackleg drilling, track standing, hand mucking, hand steeling, gold panning, surveying and Swede sawing.

The competition began in 1978 to honor 91 miners who died in a fire at Idaho’s Sunshine Mine in 1972.

“We may not use these techniques as often today, but they still provide students with a solid foundation and appreciation for how miners used to operate,” said Johnson.

Johnson has been involved in several activities and organizations while at S&T, and this has helped her develop leadership and networking skills that she will find beneficial moving forward.

Some of her other activities include serving as president of S&T’s Women in Mining organization and as a member of the Rolla Rockets Roller Derby team.

Johnson said that one of her roller derby teammates also shares her love for mining engineering – and her name. Dr. Catherine Johnson, a Robert H. Quenon associate professor of mining and explosives engineering at S&T, serves as a positive influence for her, both when they are skating and when discussing advanced engineering topics.

“I would encourage new students to not be afraid to get involved and stay active,” said Johnson. “Learning doesn’t only happen in the classroom.”

In May of this year, Johnson intends to finish her bachelor’s degree. Then, because she has already completed some graduate-level courses as a dually enrolled student, she will finish her master’s degree the following year.

After that, she said she will be ready to work full-time in the industry, where she intends to be a spark for the future of mining, which, in turn, will propel countless other industries into the future as well.

Photo: Kate Johnson, back row, third from left, with members of the S&T Women’s Mucking Team at the 2022 Intercollegiate Mining Competition. Photo courtesy of Kate Johnson.