Research Areas

World-class insights helping to inform and shape public
policy on earth resources, energy, and the environment

FUTURE OF OIL & GAS

Designing a future interdisciplinary and shared research agenda to understand the role of oil and gas in the energy transition.

MINERAL FOUNDATIONS OF THE ENERGY TRANSITION

Implications of energy transition on increased demand for minerals and the impacts on markets, trade, security, communities, geopolitics, prices, and technology development.

EARTH OBSERVATION GROUP

Utilizing cutting edge satellite technology and data to inform stakeholders on issues related to oil and gas, power outages, forest fires, and fishing.

SPACE RESOURCES

Space as a frontier of economic opportunity as scientists, technologists, and entrepreneurs bring the vastness of space within human grasp.

ADVANCED ENERGY SYSTEMS

What are the policies needed to develop secure, resilient, and adaptive energy infrastructure that fosters economic growth while reducing environmental impact?

ENERGY SECURITY & RESILIENCE

Global research and analysis on energy risks ranging from climate change to resource competition to population and demand growth to governance and infrastructure investment.

WATER TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION

Role of water technology innovation in reimagining global water systems in a world of increasing water scarcity, and connecting perspectives of scientist and engineers with those of policy makers.

ENERGY & DEVELOPMENT

Supporting developing economies in establishing sustainable energy systems and reducing energy poverty around the globe.

CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Bringing together policymakers, manufacturers, and consumers and assessing all sectors and interconnectivities to develop a life cycle approach to the circular economy and moving to a zero waste future (materials and energy).

NET ZERO EMISSIONS

Multidisciplinary approach to scientific and engineering research on Net Zero Emissions technological innovations, coupled with crosscutting work on policy, markets, and regulation.

Please feel free to download and share our Payne Institute Research Areas summary page here.

For more information about any of the Payne Institute for Public Policy Research Areas, please contact our Deputy Director Greg Clough, at gclough@mines.edu.