网曝吃瓜

网曝吃瓜 and the have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to continue collaborating in the areas of arts and STEM.  

Under the MOU, the two organizations agree to explore opportunities for collaboration that might include such things as:

鈼�     Staff exchanges 

鈼�     Joint research activities and publications

鈼�     Encouragement of education and professional development for staff

鈼�     Student participation 

鈥淲e are excited to continue exploring ways to partner with the Rapid City Arts Council,鈥� says Mines President Jim Rankin, Ph.D. 鈥淭his MOU not only benefits the university and Arts Council, but the broader Rapid City community as well.鈥�

网曝吃瓜 and the local art community already have a history of collaborating, and this MOU simply strengthens that relationship, says Jon Kellar, PhD, professor in the Materials and Metallurgical Engineering Department at 网曝吃瓜.  

For example, when a group of contemporary artists were interested in incorporating local minerals into their pieces, they worked with Kellar and used the Mines lab to help characterize and process the minerals for use with ceramics.

Matthew Whitehead, lecturer at Mines and director of the APEX Gallery on campus, said in the past, Mines has also offered summer programs for educators that focus on science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) projects. Project areas included glassblowing, welding and ceramics. 

, director of the Rapid City Arts Council, said another example is metalwork and casting. 鈥淥ur community arts center doesn't have the space to be able to provide studio or sculpture equipment,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut we have artists who could use and benefit creatively from these resources that would also serve the student body.鈥� With this MOU, there is the possibility of working out an arrangement where the Arts Council uses Mines facilities for such community education classes. 鈥淭here's such a huge potential for cross pollination of arts and engineering in this community,鈥� she says.

Into the future, the MOU will help to solidify the relationship in existing and new areas, Whitehead said. For instance, the Rapid City Arts Council would like to expand photography resources. Whitehead would like to offer a photography class to students. If the Council is able to add equipment, Whitehead could explore using the Council facilities for a class. 鈥淲e can explore all the possibilities,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t's exciting.鈥�

网曝吃瓜 is not new to the arts-in-engineering philosophy. 

Mines introduced its new in 2022, funded through a grant from the National Science Foundation. The program integrates art concepts into undergraduate engineering programs with the goal of increasing student innovation, creativity, collegiality and entrepreneurship 鈥渨hile broadening the undergraduate talent pool.鈥�

鈥淚t's about innovation and creativity,鈥� says Kellar. 鈥淎nd ultimately preparing and graduating quality engineers.鈥� 

Dietrich said the MOU between Mines and the Rapid City Arts Council builds upon a strong relationship that already exists and opens the door for opportunities for local arts, community members and students at Mines. She's excited for what's to come. 鈥淭his is just a really unique partnership to foster interest in pursuing additional artforms,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t's an opportunity to deepen the relationship in a way that will enhance community resources and creativity.鈥�