MARCH 2023
2023 NSTA NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SCIENCE EDUCATION – MARCH 23-25, 2023
MEC participated in the 3-day National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) National Conference on Science Education held at the Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, GA, on March 23-25, 2023. MEC volunteers actively engaged with over 2500 teachers who visited the booth. Katie Kosloski, a mining engineer for Luck Stone, was planning chairperson for this event. MEC volunteers talked with the teachers and handed out over 2000 free rock and mineral boxes, plus additional educational resources, posters and flyers to help the teachers educate their students on the importance of minerals and mining. The excited teachers who lined up in large numbers to make their kits learned about the ten different rocks and minerals from the volunteers. There were samples of siltstone, anthracite, phosphate, halite, granite, taconite, ilmenite, limestone, chalcopyrite, and kyanite. Volunteers explained where the rocks and minerals are mined and how they are used.
DECEMBER 2022
2023 NATIONAL SCOUT JAMBOREE – JULY 19-28, 2023
The National Scout Jamboree is a quadrennial two-week encampment for boys and girls, ages 13-18, in the Scouts BSA program. Around 13,000 Scouts are expected to attend the 2023 event.
MEC’s 2023 exhibit will be themed, “Mining in Our Modern World: Journey to the Middle of Your Mobile.” The exhibit will emphasize many messages embodied in the Mining in Society merit badge. Most importantly, however, we will continue to help Scouts make a personal, direct connection to the importance of mining to their lives.
Become a sponsor or volunteer for the 2023 Jamboree.
Learn more about the MEC Scouting Program.
NOVEMBER 2022
MOVE MINING NEXT GEN COMPETITION IS STILL OPEN. HURRY AND SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY NOW!
K-12 students have the opportunity to create and submit 3-minute videos that illustrate how minerals and mining are important to their lives. Develop and submit your entry or entries any time before Wednesday noon MT, January 18, 2023. Submit early to ensure that your video and accompanying information comes through in plenty of time! A group of expert judges will score the entries and the prize levels are:
- Best Overall $1,000;
- Best in Grades K-5 $250;
- 2nd place in Grades K-5 $150
- Best in Grades 6-8 $250; and
- 2nd place in Grades 6-8 $150
- Best in Grades 9-12 $250
- 2nd Place in Grades 9-12 $150
Visit MoveMiningNextGen.org for program information.
We are very pleased to thank our sponsor – Newmont.
OCTOBER 2022
MEC K-12 OUTREACH PILOT PROGRAM KICKOFF IN DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS
MEC is happy to announce that its first classroom presentation of this pilot program kicked off at Place Bridge Academy (K-8) on Friday, October 28, 2022. The lesson captioned “Snacks with Mineral Professionals” was an hour-long, in-person presentation and discussions on mineral resources and careers in mining. SME Colorado Section members Heather Lammers and Dick Beach engaged 2nd graders in a hands-on–activity, “Dig into Doughnuts,” while explaining what mining engineers do, much to the excitement of the students! In an effort to deliver the message about the importance of mining and minerals in everyday lives, Heather and Dick had the 2nd graders dig into chocolate, strawberry, and custard cream filled doughnuts which were used as make-believe rock layers, with the filling representing valuable minerals. Through this interactive and fun activity the 2nd graders were able to learn what mining is and what mineral exploration can entail. In the end, the 2nd graders were each handed take-home hard hats (courtesy of Colorado School of Mines, CSM), and they had fun decorating their hats with MEC and CSM stickers as they enjoyed a doughnut treat.
MEC SCOUTING OUTREACH
The MEC Scouting Subcommittee continues to support and promote the Mining in Society merit badge, available to boys and girls in the Scouts BSA program. Planning is underway for the 2023 National Scout Jamboree for boys and girls, ages 13-18, to be held at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia, July 19-28. The MEC booth will focus on the importance of minerals and mining while also emphasizing the Mining in Society merit badge. About 10,000 – 15,000 scouts are expected. Volunteers are needed to make this a successful event. For more information and/or to volunteer, please contact Akudo Nwokeukwu at nwokeukwu@smenet.org.
EARTH SCIENCE WEEK 2022 TOOLKIT
Each year, MEC partners with the American Geosciences Institute’s (AGI) Earth Science Week (ESW) to provide educational resources across the globe at EarthSciWeek.org, in the ESW Toolkit and on the MEC website. The 2022 Earth Science Week, being held October 9-15, will celebrate the theme “Earth Science for a Sustainable World.” A postcard explaining MEC’s new resources is included in the 9,000 Earth Science Week Toolkits available for free from AGI’s website. Additionally, MEC has produced a “Getting the Metal Out” educational unit, which includes new MEC activities in the online lesson plan, and the “Iron Minerals on the Moon” activity in the 2022-2023 Earth Science Week Calendar. Monday, October 10, 2022 will be “Minerals Day” during Earth Science Week, with resources available at EarthSciWeek.org/minerals-day.
SEPTEMBER 2022
MOVE MINING NEXT GEN COMPETITION NOW OPEN!
In Move Mining Next Gen, students from grades K-12 create and submit short, 3-minute videos to answer the question, “Why is mining important in our lives?” Move Mining Next Gen 2022-2023 is open for new entries September 14, 2022 through January 18, 2023 noon MT. We are pleased to announce the addition of second place prizes in each of the grade level categories this year. Visit MoveMiningNextGen.org for program information.
Thank you to Newmont, the sponsor of Move Mining Next Gen.
JUNE 2022
MEC MINERAL BABY
The MEC Mineral Baby details the estimated amount of minerals, metals and fuels that an American born this year will use in their lifetime. In 2022, this amount is 3.02 million pounds. This was calculated with statistics from the National Mining Association and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in combination with life expectancy data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Center for Disease Control. The companion graphic, “MEC Minerals Needed Every Year,” explains that 39,431 pounds of new minerals must be provided for every person in the United States each year to make the things we use daily.
MOVE MINING FOLLOW-UP MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
MEC Move Mining Follow-Up Mentorship program provides post-program mentorship support to Move Mining winners interested in further developing their Move Mining concepts. Chaired by Charlie Zimmerman, this newly launched program connects the Move Mining winners with access to mentors, resources and materials to help them achieve their Move Mining concept. Mentors will include SME staff, SME members and previous Move Mining participants.
MARCH 2022
MEC K-12 OUTREACH PILOT PROGRAM
MEC is piloting a K-12 Outreach program in two Denver Public Schools during the 2022/2023 school year. This program assists the local section in establishing a speaker’s bureau to conduct in-school presentations with hands-on rock samples, providing mineral education lesson plans for teachers to use in their classrooms and taking older students on tours of local mines and mining schools. It is the goal of the outreach committee to create an interest in careers in mining while helping teachers meet science standards set out by their school districts. If successful, MEC will do a second pilot program in the Salt Lake City metro area next year.
NATIONAL SCIENCE TEACHING ASSOCIATION (NSTA) CONFERENCE IN HOUSTON
MEC participated in the NSTA National Conference on Science Education in Houston, Texas March 31- April 2, 2022. A team of MEC volunteers distributed more than 3,000 free materials to teachers to help educate students on the importance of minerals and mining. Donated rock boxes from the SME Pittsburgh and Florida Sections, the Ohio Aggregates & Industrial Minerals Association, along with crushed limestone samples from Lehigh Hanson were on display at the MEC booth. Teachers completed a workforce survey to identify the opportunities and barriers to students considering mining and underground construction as a career choice. Other fun activities held at the booth included a rock box drawing and a snapchat filter that promoted MEC during the event.
The 2023 NSTA National Conference on Science Education takes place in Atlanta, Georgia, March 23-26. MEC will have an exhibit booth staffed with volunteers to distribute educational resources to teachers. For more information about this event, contact nwokeukwu@smenet.org.
MEET THE WINNERS OF THE MOVE MINING
SEASON 6 COMPETITION
Congratulations to Team TerraMovers, Winners of Move Mining Season 6!
This year, given Covid-related travel challenges, the Move Mining competition had a revised format to best facilitate the presentations. A video presentation replaced the majority of the in-person presentations to allow all team members to share their concept. During the live event, sponsored by Komatsu, five finalist teams shared their ideas on how to change the world’s perception of mining. Team “TerraMovers”, made up of Jose Felix Enriquez, Raul Quispe, and Lizeth Fiorela Quispe from Peru and Ingrid Benito and Cole Warnock from the United States, won the grand prize of $5,000. Their winning concept was an interactive video game called “Goaldigger” that intends to change the perception of mining, from a simple and ancient activity, to a modern activity that requires health and safety procedures, equipment and specialized human resources.
Watch the entire Season 6 competition here.
FEBRUARY 2022
MOVE MINING NEXT GEN WINNERS ANNOUNCED!
Congratulations to the 2021-2022 Season Winners of Move Mining Next Gen
Move Mining Next Gen is an online competition for K-12 students that explores the importance of mined minerals. The Move Mining Next Gen entries this year were a lot of fun and very educational! Therefore, in partnership with our sponsor Newmont, we are proud to announce the 2021-2022 Move Mining Next Gen Award Winners:
Team “Salty” from Utah won Grades K-5 and People’s Choice.
Team “Serendipity” from Minnesota won Grades 6-8.
“Chicken Steele” from Minnesota won Grades 9-12.
“The Stop Motion Siblings” from Wisconsin won the Overall Winner prize for their video on pyrite!
A total of $2,250 in prizes were awarded to K-12 student winning teams for their work in demonstrating how mined materials are important in their daily life.
MARCH 2021
MEET THE WINNERS OF THE EXCITING MOVE MINING VIRTUAL COMPETITION
Congratulations to the Winners of Move Mining Season 5!
Five finalist teams competed at the Move Mining live, virtual event during the MINEXCHANGE 2021 SME Annual Conference and Expo. The competition was impressive and enlightening, and in the end, Team Children’s Mining Pavilion took home the Grand Prize of $5,000! Elizabeth Araux, Carolina Hoyos, Tania Vega, Fernando Garcia and Nancy Leon presented the winning idea to change the perception of mining.
Watch the entire Season 5 competition here.
FEBRUARY 2021
MOVE MINING NEXT GEN WINNERS ANNOUNCED!
Congratulations to the winners of Move Mining Next Gen! See all of the videos here.
Team “We Rock” won Grades K-5 and People’s Choice.
“Team Stalter” is Grades 6-8 winner.
“Coal Crew” won Grades 9-12.
“Chicken Steele” is Overall Winner!
OCTOBER 2020
MEC RECEIVES THE 2020 PRAZEN LIVING LEGEND OF MINING AWARD
The National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum announced the Minerals Education Coalition received the 2020 Prazen Living Legend of Mining Award. The 33rd Annual Induction Ceremony was broadcast October 24, 2020, and recognized MEC for its work with Move Mining and Move Mining Next Gen. The Move Mining and Move Mining Next Gen competitions aim to elevate the public’s perception of the mining industry through education, information and awareness. People who may not be considering the safety of modern mining, the sustainability of the industry, and its impact on day to day life are now watching videos, thinking about how mining has changed, and gaining a new appreciation for mining’s contribution to every aspect of modern-day life. View portions of the ceremony, including Pat Jacomet, MEC Committee Chair, accepting the Prazen Award for MEC, here.
SEPTEMBER 2020
MOVE MINING NEXT GEN COMPETITION NOW OPEN!
In Move Mining Next Gen, students from grades K-12 create and submit short, 3-minute videos to answer the question, “Why is mining important in our lives?” There are prizes for a grades K-5 category ($250), a grades 6-8 category ($250) and a grades 9-12 category ($250), as well as an overall winner ($1,000). There is an additional prize ($500) for the video that receives the most votes online—the People’s Choice winner. Go to www.MoveMiningNextGen.org to learn how to make and submit your video!
SCIFEST ALL ACCESS
The SciFest All Access virtual science festival will offer engaging STEM activities and performances SEPTEMBER 23 – OCTOBER 2, 2020 that celebrate the excitement of STEM for K-12 students, college students, educators, and families. The MEC Virtual Booth will have the new Careers in Mining video and more! Register here.
COLORADO STATE FAIR DAY CAMP
The Colorado State Fair Day Camp had virtual activities for kids from 3:30 pm-5:00 pm MT daily, Aug. 31-Sept. 3, 2020. Mineral and mining activities and videos from MEC were part of the fun–see it all here.
SEPTEMBER 2020
MEET THE 2019-2020 MOVE MINING NEXT GEN WINNERS!
The winners of the third Move Mining Next Gen competition were:
Best Overall ($1,000): Team Steele Chicken, Mason Kroll and Austin Schackman, Virginia, MN
People’s Choice ($500): Team We Rock, Sara Tanner, Salt Lake City, UT
Best in Grades K-5 ($250): Team We Rock, Sara Tanner, Salt Lake City, UT
Best in Grades 6-8 ($250): Team Saghezli Sisters, Amina and Sabria Saghezli, Newport, OR
Best in Grades 9-12 ($250): Team Bruvs, Cassandra Maus, Allison Maus and Kristen Casey, Virginia, MN
The 2019-2020 competition was sponsored by Nelson Brothers,LLC. Online voting determined the People’s Choice winner and more than 5,000 votes were cast in all.
OCTOBER 2019
MOVE MINING NEXT GEN COMPETITION
In Move Mining Next Gen, students from grades K-12 create and submit short, 3-minute videos to answer the question, “Why is mining important in our lives?” There are prizes for a grades K-5 category ($250), a grades 6-8 category ($250) and a grades 9-12 category ($250), as well as an overall winner ($1,000). There is an additional prize ($500) for the video that receives the most votes online—the People’s Choice winner. Entries can be submitted between now and January 8, 2020. The earlier the entry, the more time for People’s Choice votes! Go to www.MoveMiningNextGen.org for more information and details!
October 2019
JULY 2019
2019 World Scout Jamboree
MEC and SME staff and volunteers are hosting a booth at the 24th World Scout Jamboree at the Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve BSA facilities in West Virginia, July 22-August 2, 2019. The booth educates young people ages 14-17 years old from around the world about the importance of mining and minerals in their daily lives. The focus is on the mined minerals crucial to modern technology, and the booth is entitled, “Modern Mining: Journey to the Middle of Your Mobile.” The Program Guide is translated into Spanish and French, and will be provided electronically to Scout leaders who can then use it to help “interpret” the booth with their Scouts. Keep an eye out for pictures of MEC’s work at the World Scout Jamboree on Facebook and Twitter.
Learn more about the Mining in Society merit badge, including how to become a counselor, on the MEC Mining in Society merit badge page.
July 2019
APRIL 2019
SAVE THE DATE!
Move Mining and Move Mining Next Gen will open for the new season of entries on Monday, September 9. The contests will be open for entries through Monday, November 20. There is more information to come, but it’s not too early to start thinking about your concept ideas to improve the perception of mining. Be sure to enter early to maximize votes for People’s Choice. Meet this season’s winners below, and go to www.MoveMining.org and www.MoveMiningNextGen.org to learn more about the contests.
Encourage your children’s and grandchildren’s teachers to have their students enter Move Mining Next Gen for the chance to win cash prizes, and also don’t forget to have your own children enter. Give students a chance to show the importance of minerals in their daily life, and share it with the world!
Kamille Bernal from Morenci, AZ interviews James Tabinski from FMI Morenci Mine in a winning video from the 2017-2018 Move Mining Next Gen competition.
April 2019
MARCH 2019
MEET THE 2018-2019 MOVE MINING NEXT GEN WINNERS!
The winner of the Best in Grades K-5 $250 Prize is: Team Let’s Learn About Coal with Maddox, Carson & Evan by Evan Murray (OH) and friends Carson Sauvageot (OH) and Maddox Ochap (WV).
The winner of the Best in Grades 6-8 $250 Prize is: Team The Clever Copper Shopper by Madison Husted (WI).
The winner of the Best in Grades 9-12 $250 Prize is: Team Mara—Iron Mining by Mara Bernstein (MN).
The winner of the People’s Choice Award $500 Prize, with 1,308 votes, is: Team Mining Rocks by Blake Austin and Chase Landon Butterfield (MN).
And, the winner of the Best Overall $1,000 Prize is . . .Team Let’s Learn about Coal with Maddox, Carson & Evan!
Here, Robert Murray explains how coal is used to his grandson Evan Murray and friends Carson Sauvageot and Maddox Ochap:
Thank you to all of our contestants for creating videos that explain why mining is important in our lives! Thank you also to our Move Mining Next Gen overall sponsor Komatsu.
Go to MoveMiningNextGen.org to see the videos. The contest will open again in fall for the next round so get your ideas ready!
CELEBRATE THE MOVE MINING SEASON 3 WINNING TEAM
Please join us in congratulating Team Mine2Me, the winners of the Season 3 Move Mining competition. Presenting before a live audience and broadcast to viewers throughout the world on Facebook live, this team of three students from Canada — Kwan Fung, Robert Fuerderer, and Retsepile Sello — shared their idea on how to change the public’s perception of mining.
Team Mine2Me presented their plan to develop short, video infographics on YouTube that can be shared on Facebook and on other social media platforms to reach a wide audience. They took home the grand prize of $5,000 for their creativity, hard work and focus.
The support of Move Mining’s Overall Sponsor Komatsu has been indispensable throughout this program.
All five finalist teams from three countries, with members from several more countries, pitched their ideas to the expert judges in the Move Mining live event. Watch their presentations at Facebook.com/SocietyForMining made possible by Newmont Mining.
Thanks also to “We Love Move Mining” Sponsor Coeur Mining.
Go to MoveMining.org to learn more and view the five finalist videos. The contest will re-open in the fall.
MEC ATTENDED NSTA AREA CONFERENCE IN CHARLOTTE, NC
The NTSA area conference in Charlotte, North Carolina Nov. 15-17, 2018 was a great success! Dr. C. Dale Elifrits and Kathy Elifrits graciously funded boxes and printing costs for the event. Luck Stone provided samples, use of vehicles and dedicated volunteers to make it happen. Katie Kosloski orchestrated this effort, as she did in National Harbor, and she was accompanied by Keith Myers, Alicia Brooks and Amanda Powers. Luck Stone, Blaschak Coal Corp, Freeport McMoRan, New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co., Oceana Gold, Boxley, Frazier Quarry, Detroit Salt Company and Vulcan all contributed rock and mineral samples for the teacher kits.
In all, 1,000 teacher boxes were distributed to more than 600 teachers from 25 states, Canada and the Virgin Islands.
March 2019
MEC ATTENDED NSTA AREA CONFERENCE IN NATIONAL HARBOR, MD
Volunteers Mark Craynon and Shane Gardner answer teachers’ questions about the mineral samples.
MEC partnered with local SME members and generous mining companies and organizations to provide rock and mineral samples to more than 550 educators at the National Harbor NSTA area conference Nov. 29-Dec. 1, 2018. Volunteer Katie Kosloski, MEC Vice Chair and SME member, chaired the effort, securing rock sample donations and booth volunteers. Luck Stone sponsored the boxes and the printing costs associated with it. They also provided samples and personnel for the booth. Other companies who provided samples include Cargill, Boxley, New Enterprise, the Frazier Quarry, Inc., Glen-Gery, Vulcan, Blaschak Coal Corp and Martin Marietta.
While 1,000 kits were assembled by individual teachers, volunteers were available to answer questions about the samples and about all the teacher resources that MEC provides. Thank you to all of our volunteers, Katie Kosloski, John Craynon, “Miner Mike” Kaas, Adam Beissner, Shane Gardner, Dan Sadtler and Levi Simmons.
March 2019
2019 NSTA AREA CONFERENCE DATES
The 2019 National Science Teachers Association area conventions will be held in Salt Lake City, UT (Oct. 24-26), Cincinnati, OH (Nov. 14-16) and Seattle, WA (Dec. 12-14). MEC welcomes the sponsorship of the boxes and printing, box assembly teams, donations of rock and mineral samples, and enthusiastic volunteers to talk with teachers during the event. If you would like more information on how to get involved in this valuable outreach or contribute by way of sponsorship, please contact Tanya Kriss at kriss@smenet.org for more information!
March 2019
NOVEMBER 2018
K-12 STUDENTS: GET YOUR VIDEOS IN NOW FOR MORE VOTES!
Move Mining Next Gen asks K-12 students to answer the question: Why is mining important in our lives? Students can get a team together, research mined minerals that are important to their lives, and then submit their three-minute (or less) video for the opportunity to share their ideas with the world! Videos will be judged by age category, and one video will win the People’s Choice award. Move Mining Next Gen video submissions are due January 14, 2019. Early submissions have the advantage of more time for online voting! The largest cash prize is $1,000, and there are prizes for different grade categories. All of the details, pointers and parent/guardian consent forms can be found at www.MoveMiningNextGen.org.
SEE THE MOVE MINING ENTRY VIDEOS
Check out the big ideas on how to change the world’s perception of mining from 15 teams in five countries! The top five finalist teams will compete to win $5,000 at the live Move Mining event at the SME Annual Conference & Expo on February 25, 2019 in Denver, CO. The session is free to conference registrants and will be streamed live on www.facebook.com/SocietyForMining. Find all of the details at www.MoveMining.org.
November 2018
MEC ATTENDS NSTA AREA CONFERENCE IN RENO
MEC staff and volunteers handed out more than 700 free rock and mineral kits to teachers at the National Science Teachers Association Regional Conference in Reno, NV on October 11-13, 2018. The kit was sponsored by Kinross and made up of ten Nevada rocks and minerals such as basalt, calcite, and copper carbonate donated by mining and mineral companies and NV organizations and associations. SME members and volunteers from Kappes, Cassiday & Associates, Nevada Mining Association, the Geological Society of Nevada and the SME Northern Nevada Section worked with teachers at the booth.
MEC is at the NSTA area conference in National Harbor, MD Nov. 15-17 and will be in Charlotte, NC Nov. 29- Dec. 1.
November 2018
SEPTEMBER 2018
MOVE MINING NEXT GEN COMPETITION IS OPEN
Move Mining Next Gen is a companion competition to the original Move Mining competition. Move Mining Next Gen asks K-12 students to answer the question: Why is mining important in our lives? Students can get a team together, research mined minerals that are important to their lives, and then submit their three-minute (or less) video for the opportunity to share their ideas with the world! Videos will be judged by age category, and one video will win the People’s Choice award. Move Mining Next Gen video submissions are due January 14, 2019. Early submissions have the advantage of more time for online voting. The largest cash prize is $1,000, but there are prizes for different grade categories. All of the details, pointers and parent/guardian consent forms can be found at www.MoveMiningNextGen.org.
MOVE MINING COMPETITION ENTRIES ARE DUE OCTOBER 14, 2018
Do you have the big idea on how to change the world’s perception of mining? Don’t miss your chance to win $5,000 for creating the best idea on changing the world’s perception of mining! All video and abstract submissions are due by October 14, 2018. Submit your video now and share it for a chance to win the People’s Choice. Anyone age 10 and up can enter. The top five finalist teams will compete at the live Move Mining event at the SME Annual Conference & Expo on February 25, 2019 in Denver, CO. Find all of the details at www.MoveMining.org.
September 2018
AUGUST 2018
MOVE MINING: AN AWARD-WINNING PROGRAM
Move Mining has been awarded the 2018 Power of A Silver Award by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). According to Chris Vest, ASAE’s Director of Public Policy, “The Power of A Awards recognize a select number of organizations annually that distinguish themselves with innovative, effective and broad-reaching programs and activities that positively impact America and the world.” Move Mining strives to do just that by challenging both industry- and non-industry individuals to consider the importance of mining in their lives and propose ideas for ways to change the public’s perception of mining. Move Mining Next Gen is its companion competition for Grades k-12.
Season 3 of Move Mining is underway, as is the Next Gen competition. Submissions will be posted online at www.MoveMining.org and www.MoveMiningNextGen.org. Visit these websites to learn more about the program.
NEW MEC EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
The 21st annual Earth Science Week celebration (October 14-20, 2018) will emphasize artistic expression as a unique, powerful opportunity for geoscience education and understanding in the 21st century. Copies of the “Earth as Inspiration” Earth Science Week Toolkit are free, and available for the cost of shipping and handling in the U.S. To order your Toolkits, please visit www.earthsciweek.org/materials.
In collaboration with the Ohio Industrial Minerals & Aggregates Association and Ohio Aglime Council, MEC produced the “From Quarry To Crop” set of resources. The set includes a postcard and a calendar page in the Earth Science Week Toolkit, plus the activities and videos on MEC’s Earth Science Week page. Teachers will find the new “From Quarry to Crop: Growing More With Aglime” hands-on activity for download, along with links to an accompanying step-by-step video and a video all about Aglime, and the “Determining Mineral Reserves” activity calendar page.
August 2018
APRIL 2018
MEC ATTENDS USA SCIENCE & ENGINEERING FESTIVAL
Volunteer Katie Kosloski facilitates mineral activities with families.
MEC participated in the 5th USA Science & Engineering Festival Expo at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C., on April 6-8, 2018. The free festival allowed families to participate in thousands of exhibits, experiments and stage shows, drawing more than 350,000 people. MEC offered participants the opportunity to try on mine safety gear and discuss the value of mined materials in their lives. SME members and volunteers at the booth talked with the public about the importance of mining and the exciting careers the industry offers.
April 2018
FEBRUARY 2018
WATCH THE MOVE MINING COMPETITION
See the finalists and the winning team present their ideas “Shark-Tank” style in the 2nd annual Move Mining event.
Learn more at www.movemining.org.
WATCH THE MOVE MINING COMPETITION LIVE FEBRUARY 26
View the Move Mining competition on facebook.com/SocietyForMining Monday, February 26, 2018 at 4:30 p.m. Central Standard Time (CST). Move Mining finalists will present at the 2018 SME Annual Conference & Expo in Minneapolis, MN, in a “Shark Tank”-like format. Learn more at www.movemining.org.
DECEMBER 2017
MEET THE 2017 MOVE MINING NEXT GEN WINNERS!
Join us in congratulating this year’s winners of the Move Mining Next Gen K-12 video competition.
Also meet the finalists for the Move Mining competition. Be sure to tune in live to facebook.com/SocietyForMining February 26, 2018 at 4:30 pm CST to see the Move Mining event when finalists present at the 2018 SME Annual Conference & Expo in Minneapolis, MN. Learn more at www.movemining.org.
December 2017
MEC ATTENDS NSTA REGIONAL CONFERENCE IN NEW ORLEANS
MEC staff and volunteers handed out more than 900 free rock and mineral kits to teachers from 32 states and Canada at the National Science Teachers Association Regional Conference in New Orleans, LA on November 30-December 2, 2017. The “Totally Awesome Classroom Rock Kits” featured samples of ten rocks and minerals such as granite, flint and halite (salt). SME members Dale Elifrits and Pat Jacomet led volunteer efforts to develop the rock kits with donations from mining and mineral companies and associations. They also staffed the booth.
MEC will attend three NSTA regional conferences again next fall. The 2018 conferences will be in Reno, NV, National Harbor, MD and Charlotte, NC.
December 2017
THERE’S STILL TIME TO VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE MOVE MINING NEXT GEN VIDEO!
Check out all 100 video entries in the Move Mining Next Gen competition and vote for your favorite! The entries from K-12 students are fun and creative. Voting is open through December 13, 2017. Be sure to also see the video and abstract entries in the second annual Move Mining competition.
December 2017
MEC News
NOVEMBER 2017
TIME TO VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE MOVE MINING NEXT GEN VIDEO!
Check out all the videos entries in the Move Mining Next Gen competition and vote for your favorite! Be sure to also learn about the second annual Move Mining competition with entries due December 1.
November 2017
MEC ATTENDS NSTA REGIONAL CONFERENCE IN MILWAUKEE
MEC staff and volunteers handed out 1,000 free rock and mineral kits to teachers at the National Science Teachers Association Regional Conference in Milwaukee, WI on November 9-11, 2017. The “Totally Awesome Classroom Rock Kits” featured samples of ten rocks and minerals such as quartzite, sandstone and taconite (iron ore). SME member Andrea Martin led the volunteer committee of SME members and collaborating organizations that developed the rock kits with donations from regional mining and mineral companies and associations in the region. The group also staffed the booth.
MEC will attend one more NSTA regional conference this fall.
November 2017
SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE
Move Mining Next Gen Submissions Due November 15, 2017
Move Mining Submissions Due December 1, 2017
Learn all about the competitions and submit your concept and video at the websites for Move Mining
November 2017
MEC News
OCTOBER 2017
Move Mining and Move Mining Next Gen Submissions Due November 15, 2017
Learn all about these competitions and submit your concept and video at the websites for Move Mining and Move Mining Next Gen.
October 2017
MEC Attends NSTA Regional Conference in Baltimore
From October 5-7, MEC staff and volunteers handed out 1,000 free rock and mineral kits to teachers at the National Science Teachers Association Regional Conference in Baltimore, MD. The “Totally Awesome Classroom Rock Kits” featured samples of ten rocks and minerals such as quartzite, siltsone and bituminous coal. Teachers from 26 states attended the booth. Katie Kosloski of Luck Stone led the volunteer committee of SME members that developed the rock kits with donations from regional mining and mineral companies and associations in the region. The group also staffed the booth.
MEC will attend two more NSTA regional conferences this fall.
October 2017
MEC News
AUGUST 2017
Scouts Receive Award For Mining in Society Merit Badge
The 2017 Prazen Living Legend of Mining Award will be presented to the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) at the 30th Annual National Mining Hall of Fame Induction Banquet on September 23, 2017, in Denver, CO. The National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum’s Board of Directors made the selection due to the Boy Scouts of America Mining in Society merit badge that was created in collaboration with MEC and SME.
Learn more about the Mining in Society merit badge, including how to become a counselor, on the MEC Mining in Society merit badge page.
August 2017
Move Mining and Move Mining Next Gen Competitions Announced
Why is Mining Important in Our Lives? Enter MEC’s new K-12 Move Mining Next Gen video competition and your answer to that question could earn you a cash prize. Videos of 3 minutes or less are due by November 15, 2017. Submit your video early and increase your chances to win the People’s Choice award.
Be sure to also find out about the second annual Move Mining competition and its culmination in a “Shark-Tank” style event.
Learn about the importance of mining in our everyday lives and come up with your best ideas today!
August 2017
Updated October 2017
Mining In Society Merit Badges Earned at Jamboree
Scouts check out the incredible size of the mining truck tire in a display provided by King Tire Service and Coronado Coal’s Toney Fork mine in Lorado, West Virginia.
Attentive Scouts learn about different types of mining equipment.
MEC and SME staff and volunteers hosted a Mining in Society merit badge booth at the 2017 National Scout Jamboree at the Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve BSA facilities in West Virginia, July 19-28, 2017. In all, 2270 Scouts visited the booth, and 618 completed the requirements to earn the merit badge during the Jamboree.
Learn more about the Mining in Society merit badge, including how to become a counselor, on the MEC Mining in Society merit badge page.
See more pictures on MEC’s Facebook and Twitter.
August 2017
MEC News
July 2017
New MEC Pinterest Page
MEC now has a Pinterest page at www.Pinterest.com/MineralsEducationCoalition. Teachers use Pinterest to find activity ideas and other educational resources for their classrooms. Check us out on Pinterest and become a follower!
July 2017
Mining In Society Merit Badge Booth
MEC, with SME, is hosting a Mining in Society merit badge booth at the 2017 National Scout Jamboree at the Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve BSA facilities in West Virginia, July 19-28, 2017. Learn more about the Mining in Society merit badge, including how to become a counselor, on the MEC Mining in Society merit badge page.
July 2017
Earth Sciences Week 2017 Toolkit
The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) is now accepting advance orders for the Earth Science Week 2017 Toolkit. The Toolkit contains educational materials for all ages that correspond to this year’s event theme, “Earth and Human Activity.” To learn more, please visit www.earthsciweek.org. To order your Toolkits, please visit www.earthsciweek.org/materials. MEC’s new “What’s In My Toothpaste” game will be part of the AGI Earth Science Week Toolkits along with the “A Paste With A Taste” calendar activity adapted with permission from Women in Mining.
July 2017
New Children’s Book–Mineral Maniacs
The Mineral Maniacs and the Magic Hard Hat is the first in a children’s book series by Jules Miles exploring the exciting and educational world of mining, geology and engineering. The book was one of the finalists in the 2016 Move Mining Competition. BONUS: Includes a supplemental section for students and educators alike about how the mineral is formed, mined, processed, and used in our everyday life. Available in the SME Bookstore.
July 2017
