Houston Daily

The University of Houston has launched a $1 million program, funded by the National Science Foundation, to address a workforce shortage in the U.S. mineral industry. The initiative is led by Associate Professor of Information Science Technology Xuqing (Jason) Wu and brings together UH faculty from multiple disciplines along with industry partners.

Wu highlighted the urgency for targeted educational programs, stating, “Without targeted educational programs, the U.S. risks falling behind in securing a stable domestic supply of critical minerals.” Minerals such as copper and lithium are essential for products like phones and computers, while stone and cement are used in construction. These resources also play a vital role in powering energy systems.

Despite its significance, Wu noted that public perception of the mineral industry has not kept pace with its technological advancements. He said, “The program aims to reshape public perception of the critical minerals industry, highlighting its role in energy, defense and advanced manufacturing,” adding that their efforts will showcase “the industry’s true, high-tech nature.”

The project will directly support around ten high school students and ten community college students each year in Houston. Participants will be paired with mentors from the industry and take part in a four-week training camp featuring hands-on learning experiences. Wu explained that many young students have little exposure to careers related to mining or materials science: “High school and community college students often lack exposure to career pathways in mining, geoscience, materials science and data science. This project is meant to ignite student interest and strengthen the U.S. workforce pipeline in the minerals industry by equipping students with technical skills, industry knowledge and career readiness.”

The interdisciplinary team includes co-principal investigators Jiajia Sun (Earth & Atmospheric Sciences), Yan Yao and Jiefu Chen (Electrical and Computer Engineering), as well as Yueqin Huang (Information Science Technology).