Mines professor backs US-PNG student exchanges to boost critical minerals expertise

Aaron Goodman, an assistant professor at the Colorado School of Mines, advocates for establishing university exchange programs between the United States and Papua New Guinea. He believes these programs are crucial for training geochemists and metallurgists, thereby bolstering expertise in the critical minerals sector. Goodman highlighted that such exchanges are already successful with other nations, where industry professionals pursue advanced degrees in specialized fields like geochemistry or metallurgy, bringing their enhanced skills back to their home countries. He expressed enthusiasm for US researchers conducting fieldwork in PNG to understand global critical mineral deposits. This proposal aligns with Washington's strategic goals to secure supply chains for vital metals such as copper, nickel, and cobalt, resources that PNG possesses in significant quantities. Currently, PNG's universities have limited programs in advanced geochemistry and extractive metallurgy. Goodman emphasized the importance of building domestic capacity within PNG to analyze mine waste, track clean minerals, and support in-country processing, reducing reliance on foreign laboratories. He views the electrification of society as a global challenge, underscoring the role of critical minerals in this transition.

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It’s typically a lot of industry people that are working in the mining industry as geologists in other countries, and they want to come get an advanced degree in something specific, like geochemistry or metallurgy.