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Explore the Future of Clean Energy and Mineral Policy
Join the Critical Minerals Research Lab Conference to hear interdisciplinary PhD research on sustainable extraction, supply chains, and community impacts.
Joseph Sampson
June 25, 2025 • 6 minutes
What’s Happening Today!
Welcome to a new & exciting daily post from That Black Chemist!
Today we’re spotlighting the Critical Minerals Research Lab Conference, a student-led research conference covering extraction, sustainability, and policy. This is perfect for anyone curious about the future of clean tech and global supply chains.
Next, we’re turning our attention to the future of U.S. manufacturing. The NSF just invested over $25 million into groundbreaking research and workforce development to enhance manufacturing technologies.
Finally, scientists have designed radioactive nanocrystals that could revolutionize cancer treatment by delivering pulses of cancer-killing radiation to the cells.
Upcoming Opportunities
🌍 Critical Minerals Research Conference (Virtual)
The global shift toward clean energy has made critical minerals a policy and research priority—but the challenges across mining, sustainability, and supply chains remain complex.
Join Resources for the Future (RFF) as they host a virtual, two-day conference spotlighting research from 14 PhD students in the Critical Minerals Research Lab. Topics include:
🔋 Battery tech & global supply chains
🏭 Sustainable extraction and processing
🌱 Community impacts and environmental justice
🔄 Innovations in alternative mineral sourcing
Each session features student presentations, expert discussants from academia and industry, and interactive Q&A. This is a free, open-to-the-public event, and recordings will be available online afterward.
✅ Conference Details
Dates: June 26-27, 2025
Location: Online
Host: Resources for the Future
Register Here: [Link to Registration]
⚠️ Bonus Opportunities You Should Know
🧪 NSF REU Summer Research Programs: List of funded undergrad research programs. (Search here)
💰 NASA OSTEM Internships: List of NASA Internships for high school and undergraduate STEM students (More info).
🧠 NASA Pathways Internship: Multi-semester internship involving different career paths at NASA (Link).
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Scientist’s Scroll
🏭 NSF Invests $25.5M in the Future of U.S. Manufacturing
The National Science Foundation has committed $25.5 million to reshape the landscape of U.S. manufacturing through its Future Manufacturing (NSF FM) program.
This year’s investment will fund 7 research grants and 9 seed projects across 36 institutions and companies, with a focus on transformative technologies in biomanufacturing, cyber manufacturing, and even quantum manufacturing.
Tip of the Day
🛠️ Start Building Things—Even Simple Ones
Whether it’s a basic circuit, a DIY sensor, or a moving part powered by code, building things with your hands is one of the fastest ways to level up in science and engineering. Here’s why:
Stand Out in Research & Internships: Hands-on experience shows initiative and practical skills that can’t be taught in a lecture.
Bridge Theory and Practice: Building a circuit or mechanism helps you see how physics, chemistry, and programming actually work in the real world.
Problem-Solving Grows Fast: Every build comes with bugs or broken parts and learning to fix them sharpens your critical thinking.
Fuel Your Curiosity: Once you build one thing, you’ll want to build more and the learning becomes self-driven.
Impress Mentors and PI’s: A working prototype or demo, even if rough, can open doors to research roles or bigger projects.
Subscribe to explore daily research opportunities!
Today’s Theme: What’s Happening Wednesday
This Week in Science: Can Radioactive Nanocrystals Cure Cancer?
☢️ DOE Scientists Design Radioactive Nanocrystals for Targeted Alpha Therapy
A team of researchers have engineered nanometer-sized crystals made of lanthanum, vanadium, and oxygen that can carry radioactive isotopes like actinium and radium to kill cancer cells.
These isotopes emit alpha particles that break DNA strands in cancer cells, offering a new form of radiation treatment that could be up to 50% more effective than chemotherapy—and with fewer side effects.
The study used advanced simulations and lab experiments to show how these isotopes cluster inside the nanocrystals, helping scientists design even more precise cancer treatments.
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