“For the first time in the history of mining anywhere in the world, our new school will rely on a holistic approach to mineral resource management,” said Moe Momayez, interim department head and David and Edith Lowell chair in the Department of Mining and Geological Engineering. “The Department of Mining and Geological Engineering will play a key role in this effort, just as it has been at the forefront of the field for the past 135 years, and will continue to educate the next generations of mining engineers from every corner of the globe.”

The new school’s offerings will include an interdisciplinary minor, as well as undergraduate and graduate certificates in areas such as safety and health and analytics, AI and automation. “I always like to tell people that if you want to make a big difference in this world, engineering is the place to do it,” said David W. Hahn, Craig M. Berge dean of the College of Engineering. “And mining is one of the areas in which the creative problem-solving abilities and technical expertise of engineers is becoming increasingly important. By partnering with other campus units and seeking input from industry, we are building a school in which our students will be building the future.”

A nationwide search for the school’s director, who will report to the deans of the College of Engineering and College of Science, is expected soon. The school will offer introductory and interdisciplinary courses that complement existing curriculum in the two colleges and include coursework requested by industry and government agencies.

The school will serve more than just students majoring in related fields. For example, one new introductory course geared to students across campus — 67% of whom say they know little to nothing about mining — will contextualize the need for mineral resources and the technical, social, economic and environmental issues surrounding their acquisition, use and reuse. The course will explore the impact of developments like digitization and low-carbon technologies, as well as important issues like community and environmental health.

The school’s leadership team is organizing a technical advisory committee of representatives from industry, other universities, government agencies and nongovernmental organizations, as well as an advisory panel of students from science and engineering. The creation of the school is supported by a $2 million gift, plus a $2.5 million challenge grant, from the Lundin family. The family leads the Lundin Group, made up of 14 publicly traded companies in the natural resource sector operating in more than 25 countries.

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