Engineering Treks
Given the global nature of the supply chain, it is essential that students work effectively with international collaborators and have a grounding in the environmental and social effects of minerals mining. SuReMin emphasizes educational activities that broaden participation in decarbonization technology development, mining sustainability research, and environmental and social data science.
September 2023 Trek
In September 2023, the Center for Engineering Sustainability and Resilience completed its inaugural Global Engineering Trek in Energy Storage & Critical Minerals, sending nine undergraduate students to Chile. As one of the world’s largest lithium and copper producers, Chile is at the heart of global efforts to build green energy generation and storage systems.
The group visited partners at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and Sustainable Minerals Institute. In addition, they took a trip to the Atacama Desert to visit the SQM Lithium extraction facility, went to El Teniente, a copper mine that is the largest underground mine in the world, and were able to meet with the chief of staff of Chile’s Ministry of Mining to hear presentations on the government policies in mining copper and lithium.
See more photos and read about the 2023 undergraduate trek in the students' own words.
September 2024 Trek
SuReMin will support an additional engineering trek to Chile in September 2024.
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