The mining newspaper for Alaska and Canada's North
The mining newspaper for Alaska and Canada's North
North of 60 Mining News - January 24, 2025
Students investigate rock samples during an ARE program in an Alaska elementary school.
In support of fostering a new generation of Alaskan natural resource workers, the U.S. Department of Energy has awarded the Alaska Resource Education (ARE) $300,000 to fund the mission of spreading awareness about careers in the energy sector.
"This funding will benefit hundreds of students by allowing us to further our mission of spreading awareness about Alaska's natural resources industries and the many amazing careers within those industries," said ARE Executive Director Ella Ede.
Through a hands-on curriculum designed to engage and educate K-12 students based on their age group, ARE introduces the next generation of Alaskan workers to the resource development industry, the role this sector plays in the state's economy, the career opportunities it offers, as well as the risks and cutting-edge safety measures employed in the natural resource sectors.
ARE's efforts are seen as vital to filling future jobs in a sector of the economy that is experiencing a deepening shortage of workers – a shortfall that is not unique to Alaska's mining and the other natural resources sectors but is a growing issue across the U.S.
With a grant awarded through DOE's "Clean Energy Careers for All program," ARE will engage high school students in a comprehensive curriculum that highlights Alaska's natural resources and the associated diverse career opportunities, with an emphasis on Alaska's minerals and their importance in the development of renewable energy.
The funds will also help educators from the Lower 48 travel to Alaska and participate in ARE's Natural Resource Management Externship and shadow its minerals and energy programs.
The funds awarded by DOE are important to ARE, which is a nonprofit organization that depends on government grants and private sector donations for its endeavors to educate Alaskan youth on the importance of the natural resources industries to the state and the good-paying career opportunities they offer.
ARE and the other nonprofits awarded DOE grants – in support of workforce development programs that promote STEM education and exposure to renewable energy career options – are eligible to receive additional funding based on their performance during the initial phase.
Over his more than 16 years of covering mining and mineral exploration, Shane has become renowned for his ability to report on the sector in a way that is technically sound enough to inform industry insiders while being easy to understand by a wider audience.
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