March 12, 2025 - For the second consecutive year, Missouri University of Science and Technology's (Missouri S&T) mining and metallurgical engineering students have won first place in the international Metallic Student Design Competition hosted annually by the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME), where student teams tackle real-world mining challenges and showcase their talents to industry leaders.

Regarded as one of the most prestigious student competitions in the mining sector, the Metallic Student Design Competition challenges university teams from around the world to develop practical and economically viable mine designs.

Members of the team include, from left: Ayden Yahn, Evan Barth, Toby Lonning, Thomas Barnes, Patrick Hatfield, and Garrett Bell. They are joined by Miguel Pugmire, a senior mining engineer with Rio Tinto. 

Photo: Missouri S&T: Garrett Bell

The contest challenges students with real-world industry scenarios, pushing them to apply their technical knowledge to complex mining projects.

Divided into two phases, the competition begins with an initial design challenge completed remotely, where teams analyze provided geological data, develop mine plans, and submit detailed reports for evaluation.

This process includes assessing mineral deposits, designing processing flowsheets, and conducting economic feasibility studies to justify their proposals.

The top-performing teams then advance to the second and final round, held during SME's annual MINEXCHANGE conference, where they must refine their designs in response to real-time market and technical challenges before presenting to a panel of industry experts.

The competition began with 18 university teams, each developing their initial designs on their respective campuses during the fall of 2024. Of these, 11 teams successfully completed phase-one, with the top six earning a place in the final round at the SME MINEXCHANGE conference in late February.

With the competition serving as both a proving ground and a gateway to career-defining opportunities, Missouri S&T's team entered the challenge with a determination to defend their title and showcase their expertise on a global stage.

"Since we were the returning champions, we were able to come to this year's competition with more confidence and a strong drive to stay on top," said Garrett Bell, a senior in mining engineering from Loogootee, Indiana, and the team's captain. "Missouri S&T has an incredible legacy as one of the best universities for mining and metallurgy, and I feel extremely proud to be captain of a team that keeps that tradition of excellence going."

This year's competition challenged teams to design a lithium hard rock mine in Western Australia's Pilbara region, requiring them to navigate the complexities of resource estimation, mine planning, and economic evaluation within one of the world's most active mining jurisdictions.

For their initial design, Missouri S&T's team tackled this challenge by developing a mining operation tailored to the region's unique geological conditions and economic factors. Their proposal emphasized efficient extraction techniques, an optimized processing flowsheet, and a financial model designed for long-term feasibility.

Advancing to the final round, they were then tasked with adapting their design to new market conditions, requiring rapid adjustments to production schedules, cost assessments, and overall project feasibility.

By effectively balancing technical precision with economic viability, Missouri S&T's team secured their second consecutive victory on the international stage.

"We all worked well together to reach one common goal, and it was great to see everyone's different strengths shine," said Bell.

Alongside Bell, the winning team included Patrick Hatfield, a senior in mining engineering from Kirkwood, Missouri; Toby Lonning, a senior in mining engineering from Rolla, Missouri; Thomas Barnes, a sophomore in mining engineering from Center, Missouri; Evan Barth, a senior in metallurgical engineering from Rolla, Missouri; and Ayden Yahn, a senior in metallurgical engineering from Tulsa, Oklahoma.