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National Leadership

Mines is driving national leadership

Welcome to Colorado School of Mines, where our faculty and students are driving national leadership in energy innovation, critical mineral security, quantum engineering and mission-focused research with partners across the federal landscape.

“By working together with industry, government, and academic partners, we are expanding our impact and driving innovation to address the nation’s most pressing scientific, technological, and societal challenges."

— Andrew Lattanner, Executive Director of Public Affairs & External Relations

As one of the nation's leading STEM universities, Mines brings together deep technical expertise, interdisciplinary research and strong partnerships with federal agencies, national laboratories and industry. From advancing domestic energy production and securing critical mineral supply chains to developing quantum technologies and strengthening manufacturing, Mines is helping shape the scientific and engineering capabilities that support America's economic competitiveness, resilience and national security.

Mines + Government: Solving National Challenges

Together, Mines and its partners advance the expertise in energy science, critical minerals and advanced technologies that underpin the United States’ strategic resource needs.

Critical Minerals
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Critical Minerals

Advancing critical mineral discovery, extraction, processing and recycling, Mines provides the scientific, economic and geopolitical expertise needed to secure the nation's mineral supply chains.

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Energy
Researchers working in the Colorado Fuel Center

Energy

From advancing geothermal systems and hydrogen technologies to enabling carbon management and strengthening traditional energy system, we’re committed to powering the future through innovation and collaboration.

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Supply Chain Resilience
Postdoc Edwin Glaubitz sets up a load frame for mechanical testing in the CoorsTek Center’s Materials & Manufacturing Research Lab.

Supply Chain Resilience

Through data-driven analysis, engineering solutions and policy expertise, Mines helps strengthen supply chains for energy, critical minerals and advanced technologies essential to economic and national security.

Space Economy
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Space Economy

Research in space resources, autonomous systems, propulsion and advanced materials supports the technologies and infrastructure needed for sustained exploration and commercial activity beyond Earth.

Quantum
Quantum Engineering student working intently at a microscope in a laboratory setting.

Quantum

Mines accelerates innovation in quantum materials, quantum engineering, sensing and the applied research needed for secure communications and next-generation defense technologies.

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Payne Institute for Public Policy

The Payne Institute for Public Policy scholars and policy experts provide insights at the intersection of energy systems, critical minerals, emerging technologies and resource governance.

Learn more about The Payne Institute

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U.S. Geological Survey

For more than 40 years, Colorado School of Mines and the U.S. Geological Survey have partnered to advance research, education and scientific discovery. That longstanding collaboration is entering a new chapter with the Energy and Minerals Research Facility, a shared research hub that will bring together Mines researchers and nearly 200 USGS scientists to accelerate innovation in critical minerals, energy resources, geoscience and national resource security.

Mines and USGS Partnership
Aaron Goodman in the lab
Critical Minerals Recovery

Extracting critical minerals from unconventional sources maximizes resource recovery, mineral security and environmental stewardship. Scientists at Colorado School of Mines are working to enable the economic recovery of critical minerals as by-products from active and abandoned mine sites.