Wyoming Mining Association Plans First Student Symposium

Oct. 15, 2009 -- The University of Wyoming College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS) will host the first Wyoming Mining Association (WMA) student symposium Thursday, Nov. 5, at 3 p.m. in Room 1045 of the College of Engineering building. The symposium, open to students in all majors, will expose students to career opportunities in the mining industry through education and problem solving.

In developing the symposium, the WMA and CEAS elected to organize a design challenge where participants must solve an existing challenge.

Students can choose one of the four question options for their challenge project. WMA and CEAS anticipate that students will spend approximately 20 hours developing a solution for their chosen project. Students may work alone or with teams of two or three.

Students will be required to offer poster presentations and documentation supporting their response to the design questions. The design challenge will include a question/answer session with judges representing the mining industry and UW. Awards for Best Technical Solution, Most Innovative Solution, and Most Practical Solution will be given. Cash prizes totaling $6,000, sponsored by the WMA, will be awarded in each of these categories.

For more information about the WMA Student Symposium/Design Challenge, call Lynn Welker, Assistant Director of the Wyoming Mining Association, at (307) 778-6220.

A list of the WMA Design Challenge Questions can be found here.

Photo: Arch Coal Black Thunder Mine, Gillette.

Posted on Wednesday, October 21, 2009