UArizona to create new School of Mining and Mineral Resources

PHOENIX– The Arizona Board of Regents on Friday approved the foundation of a School of Mining and Mineral Resources at UArizona.

The new school, which will be encompassed by the existing College of Engineering and College of Science, will provide a variety of undergraduate, graduate and professional training programs, the university announced in a press release.

Students will be able to study mining and mineral resources through the school’s courses which include topics such as data science, business and social science.

The school leadership team is organizing a technical advisory committee that will include representatives from the industry, government agencies, other universities, nongovernmental organizations and an advisory panel of students from both colleges.

“We are excited about the cross-college collaboration,” Carmala Garzione, dean of the College of Science, said in the release.

“A number of departments in the College of Science are working with the school to bring unique academic and career opportunities to our students. We expect that this new school will become a nexus of activities directed toward more sustainable acquisition of minerals that are critical to cleaner and more efficient energy practices.”

UArizona officials believe that the school’s holistic approach to the topics concerning mining and mineral resources and their usage will encourage students to innovate in the field, according to the release.

“This is a significant milestone for the natural resources industry,” Jack Lundin, president and CEO of Bluestone Resources Inc., who is also a College of Engineering alumnus and Lowell Institute board member, said in the release.

“Now, more than ever, we need a university mining and mineral resources education program that incorporates a focus on environmental, social and governance issues. The new school means the University of Arizona will be a pioneer in providing this approach, which is absolutely necessary for the future of mining.”