US DOE's Assistant Secretary Audrey Robertson Visits CESM

CESM was honored to welcome US Department of Energy Assistant Secretary Audrey Robertson on August 27th to tour our laboratory and learn more about our mission to strengthen the critical minerals workforce while advancing environmentally sustainable mining practices.

The visit provided an opportunity to showcase how CESM brings together research, industry partnerships, workforce development, and environmental stewardship to address some of the nation’s most pressing critical minerals challenges.

Assistant Secretary Robertson was joined by Rachael Overbey, Chief of Staff, and Robert Bodnar, Executive Director of Mining and Earth Resources Innovation (MINERVA) Institute.

During the visit, CESM researchers and students showcased field and laboratory approaches spanning non-destructive vegetation monitoring, biology-based critical mineral technologies, analytical methods, reclamation, and lab-to-field scaling solutions.

Assistant Secretary Robertson also learned about CESM’s close partnerships with mining companies, which enable research directly on tailings facilities, as well as the Center’s outreach and educational programs connecting this research with the next generation of the mining and critical minerals workforce.

This visit comes on the heels of the Department of Energy’s announcement of a $100 million national investment aligned with the launch of the Providing Opportunities for Specialized Education in Critical Technologies (PROSPECT) initiative.

At CESM, we are proud to contribute to this national effort by connecting innovation, responsible resource development, and workforce preparation - helping build the scientific and human capacity needed for a secure and environmentally sustainable critical minerals future.