Missouri S&T will host the fifth annual Resilient Supply of Critical Minerals national workshop supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Wednesday, Aug. 6, and Thursday, Aug. 7. 
 
“Missouri S&T has built a national reputation over the past 155  years for expertise across the entire critical minerals supply chain, from discovery and extraction to responsible processing and science-based economic policy,” says Dr. Kwame Awuah-Offei, S&T’s chair and Union Pacific/Rocky Mountain Energy professor of mining and explosives engineering.  
 
“This workshop brings together experts across a variety of disciplines to collaborate and share ideas for strengthening our domestic supply of these resources, which are essential for our continued progress in technology and security.” 
 
NSF granted S&T $50,000 for the workshop, which will be in person with an online option available. Early career researchers and graduate students are invited to apply for travel grants, with a priority deadline of Tuesday, July 15. Submitting an abstract for a poster or oral presentation will increase the likelihood of receiving a grant. 
 
The Energy Act of 2020 defines critical minerals as non-fuel minerals essential to economic or national security, and Missouri is home to 29 of the 50 such resources identified by the U.S. Geological Survey. 
 
“As it stands, the U.S. is exceptionally reliable on other nations for critical minerals that are necessary for everything from smartphone and medical devices to electric vehicles and defense technology,” Awuah-Offei says. “This needs to change, and our workshop continues to be a national venue to advance and discuss new ideas and generate real solutions.” 
 
The 2025 workshop’s theme is “Empowering a Vibrant Workforce: Leveraging Critical Minerals Research to Drive Innovation and Growth.” It will include sessions on workforce development, exploration and engineering trends, processing and recycling strategies, and the connections among public policy, supply chain economics, and workforce needs. 
 
The workshop is a joint effort by several departments at Missouri S&T. In addition to Awuah-Offei, organizers include: 
• Dr. Lana Alagha, Robert H. Quenon associate professor of mining engineering 
• Dr. Olanrewaju Fatoba, assistant research professor of mining and explosives engineering 
• Dr. Mahelet Fikru, professor of economics  
• Dr. Alanna Krolikowski, associate professor of history and political science  
• Dr. Alex Luyima, assistant professor of materials science and engineering 
• Dr. Michael Moats, chair and professor of materials science and engineering 
 
Attendees can register and view the full agenda and speaker list at sites.mst.edu/criticalmineralsworkshop.

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.