The Minerals Research Laboratory (MRL) has been selected as the 2017 recipient of the Minerals Education Coalition (MEC) Partnership Appreciation Award.
The MEC Partnership Appreciation Award acknowledges an individual or organization that has exemplified support for the MEC’s mission, either through development and use of educational materials for K-12 teachers and students, or for public outreach and awareness about mining and minerals.
The educational component of the MRL’s mission is fulfilled by providing rock kits and/or technicians to teachers around the state, to aid their earth science lessons. Recently, the MRL has also begun to offer three undergraduate courses, comprising a Minerals Processing Option, at the nearby University of North Carolina-Asheville. Students learn the basic principles and knowledge of process engineering not only in the classroom, but in the MRL’s fully equipped processing facility, which is the only one of its kind in the country.
The award will be presented to Dr. Robert Mensah-Biney, Director of the MRL, at the 2018 SME Annual Conference & Expo banquet in Minneapolis, MN on Wednesday, February 28, 2018.
The MRL is administered by NC State Industry Expansion Solutions.
