The University of Utah has a rich research history. Powered by the curiosity and dedication of its students, faculty, and staff, research at the U continues to drive innovations and discoveries that shape our world.
With this in mind, the Office of the Vice President for Research (VPR) and Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP) are showcasing different researchers to spotlight our university’s studies and potential breakthroughs. Here are some of the U’s Research Groundbreakers.
Dr. Michael L. Free and Dr. Lauren Birgenheier — Assessment, Characterization, and Planning for Carbon Ore and Critical Minerals/Materials Resources Utilization in the Rocky Mountain Region
The University of Utah was awarded one of six regional Carbon Ore, Rare Earth and -Critical Minerals (CORE-CM) projects to help address critical material needs. The U.S. depends heavily on foreign sources for critical materials used for many of the electronic devices, vehicles, and clean energy technology we rely on. There is a corresponding need to produce these critical materials domestically. This project is designed to assess potential critical materials resources in locations in the Rocky Mountain Region where mining has or is already taking place with an emphasis on resources related to coal. The title of the project is “Assessment, Characterization, and Planning for Carbon Ore and Critical Minerals/Materials Resources Utilization in the Rocky Mountain Region.”
Resulting data from these assessments and evaluations will be shared through the DOE Energy Data Exchange database to help formulate regional strategies for business commercialization, workforce readiness, technology assessments, stakeholder outreach, ongoing energy transformation, and community impacts. A roadmap will also be presented for technology innovation centers.
The project leader is Dr. Michael L. Free, a professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and the team leader for the geology portion of the project is Dr. Lauren Birgenheier, an associate professor in the Department of Geology and Geophysics.
Want to learn more about critical minerals? Join us on Tuesday, February 18, for a discussion about research collaboration and critical minerals innovation. The event is part of “Tech Tuesday,” an event series that that brings together U researchers and industry stakeholders for focused discussions on breakthrough innovations.
- 📅 Date: Tuesday, February 18
- ⏰ Time: 5-7pm
- 📍Location: Cleone Peterson Eccles Alumni House
- Hosted By: University of Utah Technology Licensing Office
Must be 21 years of age to attend. Click here to register. 📩