Payne Institute for Public Policy – Annual Report 2025-2026

The Payne Institute for Public Policy’s 2025-2026 Annual Report highlights a year of growing impact at the intersection of energy, critical minerals, and global security. 

Highlights include:

• $2.12 million raised in FY26 research funding 
• $599,629 grant funds used to support graduate and PhD research students covering their tuition, fees, stipends and health insurance
• Six major symposiums drawing over 1,000 participants worldwide
• Continued leadership on issues from critical minerals supply chains to satellite-based methane monitoring

Read the full report to see how the Institute is connecting Colorado School of Mines’ technical expertise to the policy challenges shaping our energy future.

For more information about the Payne Institute for Public Policy, please contact our Deputy Director, Gregory Clough, at gclough@mines.edu.