Mines to Megawatts: S&T event to address small modular reactors in retired mines 

Posted by
On July 18, 2025

Dr. Joshua Schlegel, center, works with students in a Missouri S&T classroom. Photo by Michael Pierce/Missouri S&T.

Dr. Joshua Schlegel, center, works with students in a Missouri S&T classroom. Photo by Michael Pierce/Missouri S&T.

Could some of Missouri’s decommissioned mines potentially become secure sites for small modular nuclear reactors and help advance the state’s clean energy future? Researchers at Missouri S&T believe so and have a symposium on the topic planned for Tuesday, Aug. 5. 
 
“There’s a real opportunity here to connect Missouri’s mining history with its energy future,” says Dr. Joshua Schlegel, associate professor of nuclear engineering and radiation science. “By harnessing the collective expertise of industry and government professionals with Missouri S&T, we hope to eventually see this become a reality and help communities revitalize retired mine sites while supporting sustainable energy.” 
 
Participants are asked to register for the free event, called Mines to Megawatts, at nuclear.mst.edu/minestomegawatts. It will be held in S&T’s Havener Center.  
 
Presentations and panel meetings will focus on establishing a common framework for discussing the topic, identifying challenges and key stakeholder needs, and developing next steps. 
 
For more information, contact Schlegel at schlegelj@mst.edu

About Missouri S&T

Missouri University of Science and Technology is a STEM-focused research university of over 7,000 students located in Rolla, Missouri. Part of the four-campus University of Missouri System, Missouri S&T offers over 100 degrees in 40 areas of study and is among the nation’s top public universities for salary impact, according to The Wall Street Journal. For more information about Missouri S&T, visit www.mst.edu

Share this page

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

 

preload imagepreload image