STEM Education Today Shapes Tomorrow’s Mining Innovation

This week, students across the country are embarking on the first week of the school year—many are just beginning their education, while others pursue higher education and job training programs to prepare for future careers. As the voice of the minerals mining industry, we see the importance of education every day through the innovators that develop next-generation mining technologies and techniques that power the U.S. economy.

We have a long-standing commitment to support and encourage science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. Strong STEM programs help prepare the next generation of mining innovators and keep American mining at the forefront of scientific development and technological advancement.

To bring opportunities to students across the nation, the National Mining Association (NMA) and its members provide millions of dollars to STEM education initiatives each year. For example, NMA’s member company, Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold invests between $1.5 and $2 million supporting STEM education. Additionally, the company has pledged $1.5 million to 100kin10, an initiative to prepare and deploy 100,000 STEM teachers in the U.S. over the next 10 years.

The U.S. mining industry is expected to grow at a consistent rate over the next 20 years, adding between 11,000 and 13,000 jobs per year. By investing in STEM education, NMA helps support the STEM-trained professionals that are needed to boost America’s economy and re-establish the nation as a leader in global innovation.

Watch our “Career Day” video below to get in the back-to-school spirit and learn more about mining’s contribution to high-tech industries like national defense.