Mechanical engineering

Why did you choose to come to Mines? What have you enjoyed most about being here? Colorado School of Mines has a great reputation as a nationwide university. In fact, my high school gym teacher

“We’re targeting the highest electric efficiency ever for something that’s powered by a fossil fuel – the world’s first 70 percent efficient natural-gas fueled power generation system,” said Robert Braun, professor of mechanical engineering. “It’s natural gas, but it’s clean and there are very few emissions other than carbon dioxide.”

“Artificial intelligence is certainly on the rise and has been for several years,” said Tracy Camp, department head and professor of computer science at Mines. “There’s just so much in our world today where we can use machine learning or AI to improve on our society or lives.”

The new programs draw from the core areas of expertise Mines is known for — from civil and environmental engineering to extraction to materials science — to create an interdisciplinary field of study that prepares students for the next step in their careers.

The Graduate Transfer Articulation Agreement will allow Advanced Manufacturing Sciences students from MSU Denver to complete graduate degrees at Mines.

Post-processing – the labor intensive, detailed work that must occur after an additively manufactured part is printed before it is ready for use – currently accounts for 46 percent of the cost of metal 3D printing. Overall, metal additive manufacturing is projected to be a $25 billion a year industry by 2025.

Two Mines freshmen are among the makers firing up 3D printers across the state as part of Make4Covid, a coalition of Colorado manufacturers and makers working to provide health care professionals with the equipment they need.

The new graduate program will capitalize on the university’s deep expertise in field robotics and its niche in the geosciences and extractive industries.

Even a tiny shard of paint in orbit can do damage to a spacecraft. The Mines Capstone Design team will launch their suite of experiments into suborbital space in August 2020 as part of the RockSatX program.

Claire Thomas, one of 40 members of the Brooke Owens Fellowship Class of 2020, will spend 10 weeks working at Made in Space, a company developing manufacturing technology for space, and receive mentorship from aerospace industry veterans.