Author: Ashley Spurgeon

Unscripted Innovation: The new CoorsTek Center for Applied Science and Engineering acts as an epicenter for collaboration at Mines

Unscripted Innovation: The new CoorsTek Center for Applied Science and Engineering acts as an epicenter for collaboration at Mines

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Mines is known for being at the forefront of innovation and progress, and its campus is no exception. Campus architecture reflects the institution’s 144-year legacy, with a balance of longstanding landmarks and sleek new structures, all of which continue to elevate Mines’ reputation as a center for collaboration and advancement. When coupled with another well-known name in materials science—CoorsTek—the possibilities seem endless. In 2014, CoorsTek and the Coors family made a historic $27 million donation to Mines, funding the design and construction of the newest addition to campus, as well as providing the opportunity for new high-tech equipment and...

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An Artist’s Take on Mining History

An Artist’s Take on Mining History

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The Mines Geology Museum is known for its extensive collection of minerals and mining artifacts, serving as the state repository for Colorado’s geologic heritage. However, upon entering the museum, attention is drawn away from the brightly lit cases of sparkling gemstones and minerals to a man-made display with just as much significance and value. Hanging on the west perimeter of the museum’s main floor, a series of murals reflects the story of how many of the museum’s artifacts were found. The massive oil-on-stretched-canvas paintings depict the history of mining—from the discovery that metal can be mined from meteors to...

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Literature from an Engineer’s Perspective

Literature from an Engineer’s Perspective

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In March 2018, editors of High Grade, Mines’ literary arts journal, attended the Association for Writers and Writing Programs conference in Tampa, Fla. Mines alumnus George Saunders ’81 gave the keynote address at the conference, his talk centering around the theme of compassion.  Before his talk, Saunders met up with High Grade’s editors and swapped stories about Mines. “The students connected with him on how meaningful the arts are to their technical worlds, failing their first test and how writing, creativity and tough engineering classes are synonymous,” Toni Lefton, High Grade’s advisor, said. “It was a moment of a...

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A Wealth of History: A handful of gold coins holds the key to Colorado’s past

A Wealth of History: A handful of gold coins holds the key to Colorado’s past

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Many of Colorado’s early prospectors weren’t concerned with the shimmer of morning sunlight reflected off a river’s surface or the flash of a rainbow trout’s spotted scales breaching to snatch a mayfly. Instead, their gaze was more focused, looking for a glimmer of gold between grains of sand and silt, a fleck of fortune in the sediment of a slow-moving stream. The mid-1800s was a period rife with rumor of wealth and the desire to fill empty pockets. Many people experiencing hard times after the Panic of 1857—the first major worldwide economic crisis—moved west in search of fortune and...

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Sharing Experiences, Embracing Opportunities

Sharing Experiences, Embracing Opportunities

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Each year I’ve been at Mines, I’ve attended the Mines Send-Off Party, coordinated through the Office of Alumni Relations, near my hometown just east of Sacramento, California. This past July, I met an alumna, Joan Stratton, from the class of 1974. Joan visited Golden this semester and remembered I mentioned being in the McBride Honors Program, named after Mines’ president from 1970 to 1984. She wanted to meet up to share more about the McBride family, as she lived with Guy and Rebekah McBride for some time and got to know them both very well. Joan shared a story...

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Current Issue: Spring 2018

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