The Ralph J. Roberts Center for Research in Economic Geology (CREG) will celebrate its 30th year at the University in 2026. In its first 28 years, CREG has built a strong history in the Silver State. The center is named for Ralph J. Roberts, a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) geologist who came up with a model for how the extensive gold deposits in Northern Nevada formed, paving the way for exploration success over the last few decades. The center welcomed a new director, Simon Jowitt, in 2023.
"We’re in a somewhat unusual situation in that we’re a state geological survey that’s embedded into a University," Jowitt said.
The center is a testament to the crucial role that minerals play in our everyday lives. Whether it’s the gold, silver and lithium used in our smartphones, or the zinc in our sunscreens, there is a growing need for minerals.
"We need to mine more metals than we do currently, and we already mine more metals right now than at any other point in human history," Jowitt said.
Much of the mining industry is working on shifting its priorities toward so called "critical minerals" which will be crucial to support decarbonization of the economy. Rechargeable batteries frequently utilize lithium, which Nevada has an abundance of, and there are other metals used in solar panels, grid upgrades and more which need to be mined.
"We have the opportunity to work with industry to ensure that mining in the state benefits the state and also potentially benefits the entire world in terms of mitigation of climate change," he said.
This means that CREG interacts with industry and federally funded scientific research projects, in addition to groups like the USGS and other areas of the federal government that CREG wouldn’t be able to work with as easily if it was solely part of a university department.
"So that gives us an advantage over a lot of other economic geology groups in the country," Jowitt said. "We have a long history of effective engagement with industry."
For graduate students, CREG offers an additional focus on the economics of geology and mining beyond what is typically offered by economic geology research groups, an area Jowitt said is growing. This field will continue to grow, providing unique access to industry in a state that will be important for mining of critical minerals.
Students involved in CREG also continue to run an active student chapter of the Society of Economic Geologists.
"That actually exposes undergraduate and graduate students to opportunities like field trips to mines," Jowitt said.
In the spring semester, CREG hosts the Ralph J. Roberts Distinguished Lecture Series, an endowed series now held in conjunction with the Geological Society of Nevada. Jowitt himself spoke at the lecture series in 2019, before he moved to the campus.
"There’s been a number of pretty famous geologists to give that talk previously, and unfortunately, there’s only been two women," Jowitt said.
Jowitt is making a concerted effort to bring women geologists to campus, like Moira Smith, who spoke at this year’s lecture, to give women in the geology program more exposure to role models who have successful careers in the field.
Nevada’s economy relies heavily on mining, and that’s been the case since the state was granted statehood in 1864. In the past, mining companies in Nevada were looking for different metals than what miners, engineers and scientists are interested in today. Jowitt also emphasizes the potential future role of "wealth from waste."
"Wealth from waste is looking at mine waste that’s been generated over the last 150 years plus, and actually saying, 'Well, what have I missed the first time around? What didn’t they care about?'"
Jowitt and his colleagues are also applying for federal grants to fund research into mineral deposits and mine waste in Nevada.
"The grants are mainly going to be focused on employing research scientists and postdoctoral research fellows who can not only do their own research across all the areas I’ve mentioned, but also help support and mentor the graduate students we have coming into the program," Jowitt said.
The program currently funds three graduate students and one research scientist, with a postdoctoral research scholar who started in July 2024 and a further five graduate students starting in the fall. Jowitt also plans for further expansion of the CREG program in the coming years.
"The minerals industry at the moment is having a bit of a workforce crisis," Jowitt said. "CREG is a pretty vital pipeline in terms of producing highly skilled professionals who could continue on in research or could go and work for the USGS or could work in the minerals industry."
CREG’s history didn’t start entirely at the University. Ralph Roberts established an endowment at Harvard in honor of his son, Steven, who passed away at a young age. The endowment was moved to the Mackay School of Earth Sciences and Engineering in 1997 and now is one of the sources of funding for CREG.
"That endowment is still very much core to the CREG mission," Jowitt said. "We’re expanding the program."
Jowitt added that merging CREG's history with his own personal history of supporting researchers will expand the University’s potential to contribute to the development of professionals in this field.
Jowitt said that he’s working to partner more with faculty in the Department of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering at the University and with other geological surveys in states like Oregon, Utah and California. He’s also seeking out collaborations with the Department of the Interior, the Bureau of Land Management, the Nevada Division of Minerals and the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, among others.
"There’s a lot of opportunity to grow the program in a sustainable manner," Jowitt said.
