The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation has awarded more than $1 million to the Colorado School of Mines for energy and environmental research. The largest grant, a $750,000 award, will fund research into how social and technological factors influence the development trajectory of a proposed vertically integrated mining refinery for critical minerals in the United States It is something to do.
The project is led by Nicole Smith, Elizabeth Holley, and Aaron Malone from the Department of Mineral Engineering and Jihye Kim from the Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering. Also included are Michelle Larkins, Kathleen Hillimia and Karma Crow of Ft. Lewis University in Durango, Colorado
Nicole Smith said: “Despite the high priority placed on mining and refining the country’s critical minerals, there is a lack of understanding of how these supply chains work and the proximity of these developed areas. The impact on local communities is unclear.”
Earth resource science, engineering, and geology students are building a socio-technical database of proposed nickel and cobalt mines in the United States. The database provides information on the fieldwork carried out by the team.
Two additional Colorado mining projects are receiving funding from the Sloan Foundation this year, including a $250,000 study on how energy researchers can incorporate social considerations into their research. I am. The project is led by Professor of Engineering, Design and Society Jessica Smith and Professor of Electrical Engineering Katie Johnson. “To ensure a more just energy transition, it is critical that even early-stage research recognizes and is able to account for its unique social dimensions,” said Jessica Smith.
Students from Environmental Engineering Science, Humanitarian Engineering and Science, and Electrical Engineering conduct interviews and participant observation with researchers from two energy-focused centers.
A third study, also funded by Sloan with a $250,000 grant, will help communities identify electric vehicle (EV) charging and grid infrastructure needs during the rapid transition to electrified transportation. are. The goal is to better understand how different policies can be used to ensure that vulnerable communities benefit from these changes in energy sources. The research is led by Alexandra Newman, professor of mechanical engineering, and Hojun Choi, assistant professor of economics and management.
“Operations research and computer science students will use their data science and optimization skills to develop EV infrastructure that balances cost, demand, and equity,” said Alexandra Newman, professor of mechanical engineering. “We are providing information to the cities of Seattle and Pittsburgh about the best placement.” .
All Mines Sloan Foundation awards are for research conducted in partnership with other institutions, including Fort Lewis College, Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Vermont, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
“These awards demonstrate Minds’ long-standing relationship with the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, which recognizes Minds’ effectiveness in working across sectors and institutions to bring about meaningful change across the country. “We recognize that,” said Zach Lynott, Director of Foundation Relations at Mines.
