Category: Announcements

Payne Institute for Public Policy Releases First Annual State of Critical Minerals Report

Payne Institute for Public Policy Releases First Annual State of Critical Minerals Report

The Payne Institute at the Colorado School of Mines released today its first annual State of Critical Minerals Report on the growing demand for critical minerals and their impact on energy transitions, communities, markets, national security and geopolitics.  The energy transition—and increased demand for electric cars, solar panels and other low-carbon technologies—is reliant on critical minerals. Many of these minerals, however, are mined and processed in adversarial nations or countries with low environmental, labor and human rights standards. In fact, of the 50 minerals identified on the U.S. Geological Survey Critical Minerals List, the U.S. is 100 percent reliant on imports for 12 and more than 50 percent dependent for 31.  September 26, 2023.

Svitlana Pylypenko named 2023 AVS Fellow 9/19/2023

Svitlana Pylypenko named 2023 AVS Fellow

Payne Institute Faculty Fellow Svitlana Pylypenko, an associate professor of chemistry at Colorado School of Mines, has been named a 2023 fellow of AVS.  Pylypenko was honored “for outstanding contributions to surface and interface analysis of energy materials and impactful commitment to education and outreach,” according to her award citation. Pylypenko was one of 12 awardees from around the world to be honored as AVS fellows this year.  September 19, 2023.

Mines professor wins DOE Early Career Research Program Award 8/7/2023

Mines professor wins DOE Early Career Research Program Award

Payne Institute Faculty Fellow Michael McGuirk, assistant professor of chemistry at Colorado School of Mines, has been honored with an U.S. Department of Energy Early Career Award. The award covers five years of research with funding totaling $875,000.  McGuirk’s research focuses on separations science and developing a better understanding of how to separate materials using less energy.  August 7, 2023.

Sonnenberg recognized with RMS AAPG Robert J. Weimer Lifetime Contribution Award 7/12/2023

Sonnenberg recognized with RMS AAPG Robert J. Weimer Lifetime Contribution Award

Payne Institute Faculty Fellow Stephen Sonnenberg was awarded the RMS AAPG Robert J. Weimer Lifetime Contribution Award for contributions to the practice of geosciences and petroleum geology in the Rocky Mountain region.  Sonnenberg’s research focuses on unconventional reservoirs, sequence stratigraphy, tectonic influence on sedimentation, and petroleum geology.  July 12, 2023.

Professor Carol Dahl receives OPEC Award for research 7/5/2023

Professor Carol Dahl receives OPEC Award for research

Payne Institute Faculty Fellow Carol Dahl received an OPEC Award for Research that was given in recognition of a career dedicated to the objective study and balanced analysis of the energy sector.  This award, established in 2004, honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to enhancing knowledge of the petroleum industry and oil-related issues (on page 38). July 5, 2023.  

The 2023 CCNow Journalism Awards Finalists 6/28/2023

The 2023 CCNow Journalism Awards – Finalists

The Payne Institute Earth Observation Group contributed satellite imagery to this 2023 CCNow Finalist for Journalism Award (Up In Flames article in Reuters) that analyzed the flaring sites across Mexico.  The article is about how gas flaring soars in Mexico, derailing its climate change pledges as it seeks to boost oil output. The new data suggests that in spite of signing an international pledge to reduce methane emissions, Mexico is moving in the opposite direction from a global push to rapidly reduce greenhouse gas production. June 28, 2023.  

World Online Ranking of Best Environmental Scientists – 2023 Report 4/18/2023

World Online Ranking of Best Environmental Scientists – 2023 Report

Payne Institute Earth Observation Group Director Dr. Christopher Elvidge was named in the Research.com second annual report on the top scientists in the field of environmental science. This year, they  release an updated list that aims to contribute to increasing the online visibility of researchers, professors, and academics who actively share their knowledge in this community.  Dr. Elvidge was ranked 464 in the world and 226 in United States.  April 17,2023.

Saudi Arabia’s Future Minerals Forum partners with global think tanks ahead of January conference 12/5/2022

Saudi Arabia’s Future Minerals Forum partners with global think tanks ahead of January conference

Saudi Arabia’s global conference Future Mineral Forum has partnered a host of major think tanks to drive innovation and thought leadership, according to a statement.  Launched in 2022 by the Kingdom’s Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, the FMF has now joined forces with the Development Partner Institute, the Center for Energy Studies at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, Clareo, and the Payne Institute at the Colorado School of Mines.  Through these partnerships with the think tanks and research institutions, the FMF is targeting to provide dynamic insights that propel the development of the industry in line with strict environmental, social and governance principles. December 5, 2022. 

Mines graduate student named one of 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining 11/22/2022

Mines graduate student named one of 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining

Payne Institute student researcher Juliet Akamboe has been recognized as one of the 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining in 2022 by Women in Mining UK.  Akamboe currently lives in Colorado, where she is pursuing a master’s degree in mineral and energy economics at Mines. While in school, she has been involved in research around sustainable finance, building ESG frameworks, securing critical minerals and shaping policy for a more sustainable future. November 22, 2022.

John G. Speer honored with IFHTSE Medal 10/10/2022

John G. Speer honored with IFHTSE Medal

Payne Institute Faculty Fellow John Speer received the international IFHTSE award which recognizes distinguished achievements in heat treatment and surface engineering.  Speer was honored for “his life-time achievement in physical metallurgy, development and heat treatment of advanced steel concepts from theory to practical application, with particular focus on his leading role in the development of the Quenching and Partitioning Process.”  October 10, 2022.