Overview

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REACHING OUT TO EDUCATORS AND THE COMMUNITY

Everyone should have an opportunity to learn how we use minerals in our lives and where they come from, what modern mining really is and which professional opportunities it offers. Our outreach programs provide resources and programming for K-12 and college-level groups to discover the exciting world of mineral resources.

Look below for the exciting in-person and virtual programs available to you and your students!

WATCH OUR VIDEO!

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Cu at the Mine! 

Minerals and Mining Education for Arizona's Green Energy Future

In this four-day professional development academy, deepen your understanding of the role that minerals and mining could play in your classroom curriculum through engaging AZ Science Standards-aligned lessons, exciting field trips, expert guest speakers, and plenty of time for collaboration with like-minded and innovative educators from around the state.

June 24th - June 27th, 2024

Learn more

Explore our K-12 Outreach offerings below.

If you have an idea for a custom event, reach out to us. We'd love to help!

CONTACT US

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Educational Videos

Who: K-7th grade
Where: Online content you can share with your students and classrooms!
Length: 3 minutes each

In this era of online interconnectedness, we are developing educational content to reach more educators and students! Our series “Minerals Make it,” intended for K-7th grade students, explores the minerals that make up everyday items: copper, gold, salt, graphite... Find and share our videos on our YouTube channel.

WATCH NOW                 

Who: K-12th grade
Where: Online content you can share with your students and classrooms!
Length: 3-10 minutes each

What does a Mining Engineer do? What do you love about your job? What advice do you have for high school students? The 'Ask A Pro' career-exploration video series gives you a chance to explore your interests and career options by connecting with industry professionals. Through these short interview videos students can hear professionals' real world experiences!

WATCH NOW

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Virtual Info Sessions

Who: Prospective high school & community college students
Where: Online platform via Zoom or phone call
Length: 30mins - 1hr

Can’t make it to Tucson for an in-person visit? Virtual info sessions offer prospective students interested in a degree from the University of Arizona in one of our focus areas such as Mining & Geological Engineering or Economic Geology a chance to learn more about the exciting opportunities in the world of mineral resources. Get your questions answered about the school, programs, careers, or life in at the University of Arizona! Meet and talk with our recruiter by scheduling an appointment!

To complement your session, watch our short “UArizona Mining Engineering” videos for more insight into the mining engineering journey.

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT

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Webinars

Who: High school, community college and international student groups
Where: Online platform via Zoom
Length: ~1hr

We offer an opportunity for groups to learn more about the University of Arizona’s Mineral resource degrees through webinars specially curated for groups. These live online webinars are a great way for students to connect virtually and ask any questions. We can accommodate for any type of group including hosting webinars in Spanish for Latin American groups. Topics include the degrees offered, student experience, program requirements and more depending on the groups needs. Request a Webinar by emailing: mariomunoz@arizona.edu

REQUEST A WEBINAR

VIEW OUR PAST WEBINARS

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Classroom Presentations

Who: grades 5-12; college
Where: In-person or available in virtual format!
Length: 30 min. – 1 hr. program

Presentations available for classes, clubs and groups interested in gaining a deeper understanding of mining and mineral resources. Presentations are aligned with Arizona state science standards and hands-on activities and/or demonstrations are available for most in-person topics. Topics and suggested audiences:

  • Careers & Academic Opportunities in Mining       (9-12; college)
  • Minerals–properties and uses (4-12)
  • Design a Mine (9-12)
  • Mineral Processing Engineering (9-12)

PRESENTATION DESCRIPTIONS

REQUEST YOUR PRESENTATION

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STEAM, College, and Career Fairs

Who: grades 7-12; college
Where: we come to you
Length: variable

Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math fairs and other events can be a great setting to make 7th – 12th graders and college-level students familiar with mineral resources topics. In addition, we also participate in College, Career & Transfer Fairs promoting  mineral resources careers and degrees!

Together with our partner organizations, we can contribute to your event throughout the state of Arizona with an exhibition table/booth and our outreach coordinators. Hands-on activities and table demonstrations help attendees explore the science and engineering of mining through experiential learning.

Please contact us to tell us about your upcoming event: 

CONTACT US

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Classroom Workshops

Who: grades 5-12; college
Where: We come to you
Length: varies 

We offer engaging hands-on or experiential learning workshops that are fun and educative for students and compliment Arizona educational curriculum. These unique workshops allow students to gain a better understanding of the role of minerals in their lives though demonstrations, guided lab activities and team exercises.

For instance, students may learn about chemistry by students to creating copper metal using simple materials or learn about mining engineering through a collaborative kinetic sand activity where they collect data and and design a mine. To see a list of the workshops click below: 

REQUEST A WORKSHOP 

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Department Tours

Who: Groups or individual prospective students
Where:  Online or UArizona Mines and Metallurgy Building
Length:  ~30 mins – 1hr

High school & community college groups as well as prospective students & their families are encouraged to visit the Mining & Geological Engineering Department. We offer opportunities to tour facilities and department, attend an information session or meet with a faculty member. We make every effort to accommodate all requests for department visits year-round and visitors have the option to sign up for University or College of Engineering tours as well.

REQUEST A VISIT

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San Xavier Mining Laboratory Tours

Who: all age groups
Where: Sahuarita, Arizona
Length: ~2 hours

Did you know that the University of Arizona owns and operates an underground mine in Sahuarita, the San Xavier Mining Laboratory? Mine tours are available for upper-level high school and college groups interested in mining and rock-stabilization methods and geology. Group sizes underground are limited to 15, however split programs can accommodate larger groups and may include lectures or surface activities provided by UArizona students, staff or faculty. Tours are free, but availability is limited.

REQUEST A TOUR

GIVE FEEDBACK ON A TOUR

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Mineral Resource Discovery Workshops

Who: grades 5-12
Where: Flandrau Science Center, Tucson
Length: 2 hours

This program gives students hands-on experience with the science and engineering of today's mining industry. Students are encouraged to connect chemistry and earth science concepts learned in the classroom to their applications in an industry that touches all of our lives. Stations include
1. How mineral deposits form
2. Exploration geology
3. Mine engineering and planning
4. Mineral processing chemistry
5. Environmental effects and monitoring.

Please note: Discovery Workshops are planned to resume in spring 2023

REGISTER FOR A WORKSHOP  

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Virtual Hiking Tours

Who: Everyone!
Where: Online or in person (Hike along!)
Length: Variable

Are you stuck inside on a hot, smokey, summer day? Or maybe you are looking for your next outdoor adventure!

Try out our Google Earth Web based hiking tours. Each tour will lead you on a journey to discover some of the history of mining and mineral resources around Tucson. Take them with you as a guide while you hike by using the free Google Earth app for smart devices. Or view them from your Chrome browser in the air conditioned comfort of your own home.

Either way,

LET'S GO EXPLORING!

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Virtual Mine Tours

Who: Everyone!
Where: Online or in person (Hike along!)
Length: Variable

Discover the minerals and mines of Arizona from the comfort of your couch!

We all depend on mineral resources mined out of the ground to live our lives. Yet we don't often think of where those resources come from. From active mines that provide 66% of all the copper mined in the United States to historic mines that were the source of beautiful mineral specimens, these Google Earth Web based tours will help you explore where Arizona's minerals come from. Our beautiful state is waiting.

Come on!

LET'S GO EXPLORING!

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Summer Engineering Academy

Who: high school students
Where: Online AND in-person
Length: one day or longer

Hands-on activities in the virtual space: The UArizona College of Engineering has hosted the Summer Engineering Academy (SEA) for more than 30 years. SEA offers summer camps for high school students, including graduated seniors, who want to learn more about engineering – and get a taste of life as a Wildcat! Forty-seven students from 16 different states participated in the Mining and Geological Engineering day in Summer 2021.

FIND OUT MORE

UArizona Campus Engagement

If you are interested in getting a degree related to mining at the University of Arizona, consider one of the programs in the Mining and Geological Engineering or Geosciences departments.

Graduate and undergraduate students of any major should consider joining the UA Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME) student chapter to have exclusive access to scholarships, networking opportunities and career opportunities within the mining industry.

MINING AND GEOLOGICAL ENGINEERING  GEOSCIENCES  UA SME CHAPTER

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Education Outreach Program

Our Mineral Resource education outreach program, which is funded by the Mining and Minerals Education Foundation provides southern Arizona school students with opportunities to learn the importance of mineral resources to their everyday lives, that those mineral resources are obtained by mining, and the efforts to make mining more modern, safe, and sustainable.

The program annually reaches 10,000 students from grades 5 to 12 via classroom presentations, school-associated and community-group associated Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) fairs, a presence at mining-industry adjacent events, online video outreach content and the Mineral Resource Discovery Workshop on campus.

Each presentation and active learning exercise is tailored to a specific audience and topic and aligned with Arizona state science standards. If you are interested in a presentation on mineral resources or mining for your school or organization, please contact Chris Earnest at earnest@email.arizona.edu.

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Recruitment Outreach Program

Our Recruitment Outreach Program is designed to find and attract highly motivated students to the University of Arizona’s mineral resource degrees including Mining Engineering. It connects high school, community college and university educators and students with information, resources, and opportunities in higher education. The program supports students in the degree exploration process as they advance from awareness to ultimately advocacy—empowering them to choose a degree which they are passionate about.

The program headed by Recruitment Outreach Coordinator Mario Muñoz reaches in-state, out-of-state, and international students through a variety of platforms and events including classroom presentations, webinars, social media, department and mine tours, college, career & STEAM fairs, and other outreach events.

If you are interested in setting-up a presentation/tour/event with your organization or in collaborating with our recruiter, please contact Mario at  mariomunoz@arizona.edu.