The Conveyor

Water shortage is a significant problem for communities across the United States year after year, but a new mobile direct potable reuse system could help provide a fast and reliable solution. Tzahi Cath, professor of civil and environmental engineering at Colorado School of Mines, explains how the mobile system works and the potential it has for not only providing clean water but for new solutions and improvements to water conservation and reuse in the near future.

Carbon is one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gases, and many researchers are trying to mitigate those effects. Many of those efforts involve carbon sequestration and reuse. Manika Prasad, geophysics professor and director of Colorado School of Mines’ CCUS Innovation Center, discusses the different carbon capture, utilization and storage options Mines researchers are developing and the new CCUS graduate certificate that will allow professionals to learn the nuances of these topics and become leaders in this new wave of sustainability.

Dealing with mine tailings—the waste materials left after the target mineral is extracted from ore at mines around the world—often pose significant challenges to mining companies and surrounding communities. But Priscilla Nelson, professor of mining engineering at Colorado School of Mines, explains that tailings actually can be utilized as a valuable and recyclable earth resource and may change the way we think about mine waste and the sustainability of extraction.

The possibility of robot overlords? Fortunately, we don’t have to worry about that for a while. For now, scientists and engineers are focused on  improving basic human-robot interaction to perform simple tasks and  better understand and support humans. For Tom Williams, assistant professor of computer science at Colorado School of Mines, that means developing a robot’s working memory to improve robotic communication skills. Williams explains the process of teaching robots to think and act like humans  and the technical, social and moral challenges scientists must contend  with when doing so. To learn more about robotics at Mines, visit robotics.mines.edu.

John Spear, professor of civil and environmental engineering at Colorado School of Mines, explains the three domains of life that work together to make up a microbiome and provide the ecosystem for that microbiome to thrive.

We know that most natural landscapes are able to recover after even the most severe burns, but not much is known about exactly how that happens within the soil itself. John Spear, professor of civil and environmental engineering at Colorado School of Mines, discusses the importance of understanding how a soil microbiome rejuvenates after devastation and how it could not only give us better knowledge of our natural ecosystems but also help firefighters make informed, in-the-moment decisions about how to fight a wildfire.

Meenakshi Singh, assistant professor of physics at Colorado School of  Mines, explains the combination of fundamental quantum science and the  engineering skill sets that allow for transformational advances in  quantum information science  and the applications of scientific discoveries in practical ways.

Many scientists and engineers are focused on a new wave of innovation in  quantum science and technology, revolutionizing the field and  generating a need for skilled quantum engineers across various  industries. Meenakshi Singh, assistant  professor of physics at Colorado School of Mines, explains why we’re  seeing this quantum surge, what this evolving technology will enable us  to do in the near future and how Mines is preparing the next generation  to lead the world through the next quantum  revolution. To learn more about quantum engineering at Mines, visit mines.edu/qe.

John Bradford, geophysics professor and vice president for global  initiatives at Colorado School of Mines explains exactly what carbon  capture is and the technological development needed to make carbon  capture a bigger part of the energy  conversation.

With much of the world looking at eliminating carbon emissions from the  global energy economy, Colorado School of Mines experts are a trusted voice in the conversation when determining what materials and technology will make that future possible—and effective. John Bradford, vice president for global initiatives at Mines, discusses the new Global Energy Future Initiative  and the many changes and growth that will be required across many  technologies, industries and more to ensure a thoughtful  and efficient shift toward cleaner energy sources. Learn more about the Global Energy Future Initiative at mines.edu/energyfuture.