Celebrating Mines’ accomplishments—past, present and future

by | Apr 8, 2022 | Editor's Note, Spring 2022 | 0 comments

Pedestrian Plaza at Mines

It’s always exciting to celebrate Mines’ many achievements, from innovative student projects, to the groundbreaking research led by Mines faculty, to the big wins from the Oredigger athletic teams and more. But it’s truly special when we get to celebrate big milestones and not only look back on where we’ve been but also look forward to where we’re going and what we can accomplish next.

This year, we get to celebrate the Petroleum Engineering Department’s 100th anniversary—a century of educating the world’s oil and gas leaders and standing at the forefront of energy innovation. When looking retrospectively on how the department has grown and evolved over the years, you get a good idea of the impact the department and its graduates have had on Mines and the world. Petroleum engineering alumni are known globally for their skills and expertise, and the department has an incomparable network that has cemented Mines’ role as a leader
in the U.S.—and the world’s—energy conversations and actions for decades. 

But this milestone also gives Mines a chance to look ahead at what comes next. As you’ll read in our cover story, petroleum engineering will continue to play an important role in meeting the world’s energy demands over the next century, and Mines graduates will continue to lead that work in addition to directing new efforts toward reaching a net-zero carbon future and tapping into renewable geothermal energy sources.

There are also many other stories in this issue that highlight Mines’ leadership in some of today’s most demanding challenges. It’s a narrative that defines what it means to be an Oredigger. These stories are what elevate Mines to a new caliber of defining what is possible.

This magazine will continue to share all of Mines’ biggest achievements, and I hope you’ll continue to follow along and support your fellow Orediggers. Mines and its graduates are changing the world for the better—and that is something always worth celebrating.