South Dakota Mines to Spotlight Mineral Industries Innovation During Annual Mines Day at the Capitol

South Dakota Mines will bring hands-on science, cutting-edge research and student innovation during its annual Mines Day at the Capitol from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26, in the rotunda in Pierre.

The event offers lawmakers, business leaders and the public an up-close look at the groundbreaking work happening on campus and the impact Mines continues to have on South Dakota’s economy and workforce. This year, the university will place special emphasis on the mineral industries program housed in the Nucor Mineral Industries Building, which officially opened last spring. The state of South Dakota invested more than $20 million into the Nucor building, reinforcing its commitment to workforce development and research excellence.

“Mines Day at the Capitol is about showing how education, research and industry partnerships come together to benefit South Dakota,” said Mines President Brian Tande, Ph.D. “Our mineral industries programs are a powerful example of how strategic investment leads to innovation, economic growth and opportunities for students who will become the next generation of leaders.”

South Dakota Mines is one of a small number of universities in the United States offering all three mineral industry disciplines: geology and geological engineering, mining engineering and management, and materials and metallurgical engineering. This rare combination uniquely positions the university to address the full lifecycle of critical minerals, from discovery and extraction to processing, manufacturing, and reuse, strengthening domestic supply chains vital to national security, energy and advanced manufacturing while driving innovation and attracting high-tech employers to the Black Hills region.

In addition to the mineral industries departments, students from the Presidential Leadership Academy and the Student Association Senate, as well as the South Dakota Mineral Industries Association, will be in the rotunda talking with state leaders on how Mines research and education are shaping the future of the state.

Research remains a key economic driver for South Dakota, and Mines plays a significant role. In fiscal year 2024, the university received more than $25 million in research funding from organizations such as the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Defense and Department of Energy.

Mines also supports the state’s growing high-tech economy by producing trained scientists, engineers and business leaders. Mines graduates form the backbone of numerous companies and organizations with South Dakota operations, including B9Creations, Caterpillar, Daktronics, Black Hills Energy, Black Hills Information Security, Raven, RESPEC and Sanford Underground Research Facility.