South Dakota Mines will host its annual Mines Day
at the Capitol event in Pierre from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Friday, Feb.4. The
event allows Mines students, faculty, and staff to share their innovative work
with state lawmakers and leaders.
Mines student organizations will host numerous
demonstrations. The university American Chemical Society and Society of Physics
students will provide their popular root beer floats made with liquid nitrogen
ice cream. Leaders of South Dakota Mines Student Senate will also be on hand to
speak with lawmakers.
Mines faculty and staff will be represented by the
university’s admissions
office and Center for Alumni Relations and
Advancement. Mines Associate Vice President for Research-Economic Development Joseph
Wright will represent the Entrepreneurs
in Residence Program on campus and Dr. Ralph Davis, vice president of research,
will join faculty members representing the Office of Research Affairs. Dr. Rob
Hall, the head of the Department of Mining Engineering and Management, will be
on hand to talk about the new Mining Hub, which brings together diverse partners working in convergent research
areas including technology development, implementation, digitalization, human
factors, and others that support sustainable recovery of the Earth’s resources, and ensure a stable national supply of
materials and supporting the nation’s needs.
Mines student and faculty research has a positive economic
impact on the state. University
researchers have landed more than $63 million in research funding over the past
four years from organizations like the Department of Defense and the National
Science Foundation. Mines has a track record of turning research into local
start-up companies like VRC Metal Systems and Endlas, which in turn are
creating local high-paying jobs.
Mines also supports the emerging high-tech economy
in South Dakota with a talent pipeline of well-trained scientists,
engineers, and business leaders. Mines graduates provide the backbone for a range of companies with
South Dakota offices such as AEsir, B9Creations, Memsense, Banner Associates,
Black Hills Info Sec., Caterpillar, IMP, POET, Raven, Vishay, and many more.
Mines success in past research and economic
development efforts have led to some growing pains. The university needs more
space to complete funded research, and is asking state lawmakers
in Senate Bill 97 for support in a $5.25 million purchase of the Ascent
Innovation Building on campus that will provide 40,000 square feet of new research
space and an excellent return on investment for the state.