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Why Study Mining at UArizona?
At a time when many universities are shutting down mining & mineral resources programs, the University of Arizona ("UArizona") is investing in growing and modernizing these critical education pathways through the transdisciplinary School of Mining & Mineral Resources ("SMMR").
At SMMR, we know how vital sustainable mineral resources are to our future—a future that's at risk because so few students are entering these fields. Careers in mining engineering, mining law, and economic geology (to name just a few) offer some of the most exciting job opportunities available to students today, with higher-than-average starting pay and endless potential for innovation and advancement.
Located in the Heart of Mining Country
With world-class ore deposits, operating mines and technology companies, the rich mineral ecosystem of Southern Arizona provides unparalleled partnership opportunities for real-world learning and research.
A Tier 1 research university with globally-ranked programs in mining engineering and economic geology, we're located in the "Silicon Valley of Mining," surrounded by four of the five largest copper mines in the United States, numerous mining technology companies, and top mineral research institutions.
As a designated Hispanic Serving Institution located in Tucson, Arizona, a gateway to Latin America, UArizona is uniquely positioned to develop the mining and geological science workforce of the future, today.
UArizona's School of Mining & Mineral Resources
The need for mineral resources—and the talent to extract them—is growing at a record-pace. Advancements in technology, clean energy, and international goals for a climate-smart future are driving demand increases of 2x to more than 8x for critical minerals like copper, lithium, silver, cobalt, and rare earth minerals. But record low numbers of students entering these fields is jeopardizing our ability to reach these goals, and lessen our dependency on fossil fuels.
SMMR was born from this need to prepare tomorrow's workforce with real-world skills needed to solve today's complex problems. And we can't get there doing the same things we've always done on a larger scale. Meeting this challenge requires innovation and a transdisciplinary approach, bringing the best and brightest minds together to bear down on this urgent problem.
A mining school that's greater than the sum of it's parts
We use the word "transdisciplinary" a lot, so we'd better be clear about what we mean. Oxford defines it as, relating to more than one branch of knowledge. We define a transdisciplinary education as an innovative, experiential learning approach that encompasses both academic curriculum and industry-critical skills and research opportunities.
This is not your typical university experience.
We're breaking through the traditional disciplinary silos in university education and taking an untraditional approach. Simply put, our goal is to equip students with broader, more sophisticated knowledge and skills required of the workforce of the future today.
We've developed innovative curriculum to meet the needs of a rapidly advancing industry, and we leverage the best subject matter experts wherever they are in the world. We embed experiential learning opportunities for students alongside world-class industry partners to make sure your knowledge transfers to real-world situations.
In short, we're transforming mineral resource education to keep pace with a fast-changing world. Our goal is nothing less than to be the premier provider of mining and mineral resource talent on the planet.
Our Vision: Ensuring a Sustainable Future
Mineral resources are essential for a sustainable future, which makes mining a crucial partner to sustainability.
We're working for an environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable future with partners like the Center for Environmentally Sustainable Mining (CESM) and the Geotechnical Center of Excellence (GCE), where research is conducted and educational initiatives are developed to improve the safety and efficiency of operating mines, and reduce the environmental impact of mineral extraction across Arizona, and beyond.
Here's an inconvenient fact: there is no path to a greener future without extracting more minerals.
Climate change, advancements in technology, and the quest for a low-carbon future demand more minerals, and we can't recycle our way through. Even if everyone on the planet recycled 100% of all the things, we would still need to do more mining. There simply aren't enough minerals in circulation to meet the demands of 8 billion people (and counting) who are all interested in having a smartphone and a climate-controlled home.
▶ Learn more about the role of minerals in clean energy
Did you know:
- An electric vehicle can require up to a mile of copper wiring.
- We need 50% more minerals to produce power than we did in 2010.
- An average computer chip requires 50 different minerals.
- An onshore wind plant requires 9x more minerals than a gas-fired power plant.
Addressing climate-smart energy goals requires a 3-fold approach: more recycling, ongoing innovation, and a multi-skilled workforce. At SMMR, that's exactly where we're focused.
Our Mission: Providing Holistic Mining Education
Securing the future requires more minerals and a modernized, holistically educated workforce. It demands innovation at every stage of the mining & minerals lifecycle (LINK). That's why we're funding research to advance climate-smart mining (LINK) and bring technological advancements like AI and robotics to the fore.
As a Tier 1 research institute (link), we're meeting the challenges of the future, head-on. Through our many partners (link), we're pioneering more responsible ways of extracting minerals and restoring the land.
As Arizona's Land-Grant university, we're committed to community outreach (LINK). We work with K-12 educators to teach kids of all ages about the importance of mineral resources. We've engaged with local indigenous tribes to reclaim old mine sites across Arizona, and provide training for tribes on the mining & minerals lifecycle (link), supporting informed land stewardship for future generations.
It's all happening at the School of Mining & Mineral Resources at UArizona.
