University of Arizona proposal among top contenders for NSF Regional Innovation Engine
“At the University of Arizona, we need to think globally while focusing and acting locally,” says Misael Cabrera, director of the School of Mining & Mineral Resources, when asked to explain the university’s mission.
Kray Luxbacher, department head of Mining & Geological Engineering, aims to supercharge this globally relevant, locally rooted mission by leading a proposal to the National Science Foundation (NSF) Regional Innovation Engine program that could secure up to $160 million over 10 years.
Dr. Kray Luxbacher of University of Arizona
The NSF Engines program, now in its second round, aims to transform communities on the margins of the Fourth Industrial Revolution into hubs of technical innovation. The U of A is one of 71 entities nationwide invited to submit full proposals.
Luxbacher’s Sustainable Mining Innovation and Lifestyle Enhancement Regional Innovation Engine (SMILE) project brings together the U of A and three co-principal investigators: Pima Community College, Arizona State University and heavy equipment manufacturer Komatsu.
SMILE envisions southern Arizona as a proving ground for transformative mining technologies: electrification, artificial intelligence and automation. These innovations would reduce the environmental footprint of an industry responsible for 11% of global energy use while meeting the rising demand for critical minerals required in clean energy production. Alongside technological advancements, the NSF Engine funding would modernize the skills of southern Arizona’s workforce and lay the groundwork for well-paying employment.
Luxbacher says SMILE builds on the university’s unique history in mining. “When I arrived at the U of A, I loved discovering just how many people here are working in mining and mining-adjacent research. It’s unusual for a single institution to have this legacy and level of investment.”
Cabrera echoes this sentiment, pointing to cutting-edge U of A research on extracting rare earth elements from mine waste streams, using sugar compounds to replace acids in mineral leaching and automating mining processes to improve safety. “And this is just the beginning of what is possible here,” he says.
Misael Cabrera, Director of the School of Mining & Mineral Resources at UA
Luxbacher emphasizes that U of A leadership in the mining space is critical, especially for developing the new mining workforce. “Our country’s ability to meet industry demand is dangerously inadequate. We need to grow that American brain trust again.”
The U of A, like all U.S. mining schools, faces significant challenges. “An expensive program graduating small numbers is not economically sustainable,” says Luxbacher. “Our state government has been highly supportive of mining education and research, but we need broader collaboration to grow our capacity, visibility and enrollment in relevant programs.”
Mining programs around the country are challenged to recruit enough students for the industry, says Luxbacher, but she believes the U of A is positioned and ready to ramp up its program. “At the U of A, we have an atmosphere ripe for a large and dynamic program: excellent state support and a university that addresses mining challenges comprehensively.”
Luxbacher believes SMILE is well-timed. “Local communities, environmentalists and mining companies have not always had productive relationships, but these days, when I’m in the room with all these groups, our goals have become much more aligned. Each of us recognizes the need to produce critical minerals for decarbonization technologies, and there is a growing understanding of the role a mine can play in a healthy community. We all want to figure out how to implement clean technologies. It’s a welcome moment for collaboration.”