Experts from across the United States gathered on the Missouri S&T campus earlier this month for the fourth annual “Resilient Supply of Critical Minerals” workshop, sponsored by the National Science Foundation.

“Our country’s dependence on foreign supplies of these minerals has truly reached a critical level, and finding the best solutions requires a hands-on approach like the one we are facilitating in this workshop,” says Dr. Kwame Awuah-Offei, Chairman of S&T and Professor of Mining and Explosives Engineering at Union Pacific/Rocky Mountain Energy.

“This workshop provides a platform for people from all stages of the critical minerals supply chain to come together and contribute to solving our country’s current challenges.”

The Energy Act of 2020 defines critical minerals as non-combustible minerals that are vital to a country’s economic or national security, and the U.S. Geological Survey has identified 50 minerals that fit this description.

These materials can be found in everything from mobile phones to green energy technology to sophisticated weapons systems.

Awuah-Offei says over 200 participants attended S&T’s annual event, most of whom traveled to the university’s campus in Rolla, Missouri, while some participated via Zoom.

The workshop’s thematic sessions covered the country’s critical minerals potential, workforce development, mineral processing and recycling, and supply chain policy and economics. The event included keynote speakers, oral presentations, an open forum discussion, poster presentations, and breakout sessions.

Missouri S&T has been a leader in mining, mineral processing and extraction metallurgy for over 150 years, offering programs in all aspects of the critical minerals supply chain.

In late 2023, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Agency designated the science and technology-led Critical Minerals and Materials for Advanced Energy consortium as a regional innovation and technology center.

About 400 groups focused on driving innovation and job creation in key technology areas applied for federal accreditation and the resources and support that come with it. Missouri S&T’s Tech Hub was one of only 31 groups to receive accreditation.

About Missouri S&T

Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) is a STEM-focused research university with over 7,000 students in Rolla, Missouri. As part of the four-campus University of Missouri System, Missouri S&T offers over 100 degree programs in 40 areas of study and is ranked among the top 10 universities in the world according to the Wall Street JournalFor more information about Missouri S&T, visit www.mst.edu.