Energy Frontier: The Wyoming Landscape

In this episode of Energy Frontier: The Wyoming Landscape, guest host Selena Gerace, Project Manager of the Energy Engagement, Leadership and Careers Program sits down with Dr. Charles Sims—the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Distinguished Professor of Energy and Environmental Policy, Director of the Center for Energy, Transportation, and Environmental Policy at the University of Tennessee, and University of Wyoming alumnus. Following up on his popular appearance a few years ago as part of the School of Energy Resources Distinguished Speaker Series, Dr. Sims returns to discuss the economic realities of building domestic critical mineral supply chains.

In this episode of Energy Frontier: The Wyoming Landscape, our guest host, Selena Gerace, Program Manager of the Energy Engagement, Leadership and Careers Program at the School of Energy Resources, sits down with industry veteran and UW alumnus Doug Brooks, a member of the Industry Advisory Board for the University of Wyoming’s Professional Land Management (PLM) program. Drawing from over 40 years of executive leadership across major E&P companies—including Marathon, Yates Petroleum, Oasis Petroleum, and Chord Energy—Doug breaks down the evolving role of the modern land professional. 

In this episode of Energy Frontier: The Wyoming Landscape, Dr. Erin Phillips, Director of Cross Cutting Programs at the School of Energy Resources, sits down with Dave Green, Project Engineer at Western Fuels Wyoming’s Dry Fork Mine and 1991 University of Wyoming Geology alumnus. With over 35 years of experience in Powder River Basin surface mining, Dave shares insights into coal geology, reserve planning, and the day-to-day balance between high-volume pit operations and environmental compliance. 

In this episode of Energy Frontier: The Wyoming Landscape, Dr. Erin Phillips, Director of Cross Cutting Programs at the School of Energy Resources, visits with Pete Obermueller, the newly appointed Executive Director of the School of Energy Resources. Listeners will remember Pete from his time as the head of the Petroleum Association of Wyoming (PAW), where he was a fierce advocate for the state's oil and gas sector. Now, he is bringing his deep background in private industry advocacy and public policy to the academic and research arena and sharing his vision for the future. 

In this episode of Energy Frontier: The Wyoming Landscape, Dr. Erin Phillips, Acting Senior Director of Research at the School of Energy Resources, sits down with triple-degree University of Wyoming alumnus Paul Bonifas, Director of Business Development at Rare Element Resources. While Wyoming is historically recognized as a traditional energy powerhouse, the state is becoming a crucial hub for the nation's critical mineral supply chain. Throughout the conversation, Paul details Rare Element Resources' efforts to advance North America’s premier rare earth elements deposit at the Bear Lodge project near Sundance and highlights the crucial separation and refining testing underway at their Upton demonstration plant.

In this episode of Energy Frontier: The Wyoming Landscape, Dr. Erin Phillips, Acting Senior Director of Research at the School of Energy Resources, sits down with University of Wyoming professors Dr. Brian Leonard (Department of Chemistry) and Dr. Bryan Leonard (School of Energy Resources / Haub School) to explore the intersection of hard science and institutional policy.

In this episode of Energy Frontier: The Wyoming Landscape, Dr. Erin Phillips, Acting Senior Director of Research at the School of Energy Resources, visits with Kyle Summerfield to trace the remarkable decade-long evolution of the University of Wyoming’s 3D Visualization Center. From its early days, housed within a massive, room-sized 3D CAVE, to its modern-day reality as a lean, agile, and state-certified University Service Center, Kyle shares how his team has completely transformed the way researchers, students, and industries interact with complex spatial data.

In this episode of Energy Frontier: The Wyoming Landscape, Dr. Erin Phillips, Acting Senior Director of Research at the School of Energy Resources, sits down with Christine Reed, the Director of Outreach for the School of Energy Resources. While scientists and engineers are busy developing the next generation of energy technologies, Christine and her team are doing the vital work of connecting those innovations to the public, lawmakers, and industry stakeholders. We dive into the unique challenges and triumphs of energy communication, exploring how to build public trust, bridge the gap between complex science and community needs, and why "the human element" is the ultimate catalyst for a sustainable energy future.

In this episode of Energy Frontier: The Wyoming Landscape, Dr. Erin Phillips, Acting Senior Director of Research at the School of Energy Resources, visits with Greyson Buckingham, CEO and Co-Founder of DISA Technologies. Exploring the power of the Wyoming ecosystem, Greyson discusses how University of Wyoming competitions and collaborations catalyzed a global mineral-processing breakthrough, and shares insights on navigating federal regulations, the value of his dual JD/MBA, and why he continues to invest in Wyoming’s future. 

In this episode of Energy Frontier: The Wyoming Landscape, Dr. Erin Phillips, Acting Senior Director of Research at the School of Energy Resources, explores the intersection of international diplomacy and domestic resource security with Melissa Sanderson, a former senior U.S. diplomat, Director at American Rare Earths, and Co-Chair of the Critical Minerals Institute. As the United States races to secure a reliable supply of rare earth elements, Sanderson discusses why Wyoming’s Halleck Creek project is a vital strategic asset and shares her unique perspective on navigating geopolitical shifts, building "social license" in the mining sector, and mentoring the next generation of leaders tasked with securing the American energy frontier.