Hundreds of people who‘ve made mining their career are spending time at the 2024 SME Minnesota Conference at the DECC.

The theme is ‘Sustainable Mining: The Past Reveals Our Future.”

New this year is a teacher track for educators who want to learn more about mining, so they can help share that with their K-12 students.

WDIO caught up with three teachers from St. Paul who signed up.

“I’m very excited to be here, because as a biology and earth science teacher, I need to present mining and environmental responsibilities around mining to my students,” shared Beth Robelia.

Sam Northey added, “It’s a great opportunity to learn a lot of things that are going on in the mining industry that we can take back to our students as career opportunities.”

And Merridith Joly shared, “I teach at an alternative learning center, and many of these students have no clue where their electronic devices come from and how they’re manufactured. So this is a very valuable resource.”

During the opening plenary, Pete Kero spoke about the history helping shape the present and future of the industry. He wrote a book called Minescapes: Reclaiming Minnesota’s Mined Lands.

IRRR Commissioner Ida Rukavina also spoke as well.

Also at the conference, Chrissy Bartovich from U.S. Steel received the Mining Professional of the Year Award.

The conference continues through Wednesday. Cleveland-Cliffs and U.S. Steel will be providing sustainability updates.