Mining's role in society is to provide a vast amount of mineral and energy resources, over 6.5 billion tons per year in the U.S., as demanded by people. How do we do this in a sustainable way?A core question that lies at the heart of sustainability is:

Over time, how much natural resources (materials and energy) should be provided to meet human demand but also preserve public health and maintain ecological balance?

The question is not easily answered, is complicated by inequities across the world, and rationalizing trade-offs among peoples and nations is paramount to achieving sustainability for future generations.

Mining engineers plan, design and manage operations and companies that secure raw materials for society, some of which are critical to national security. The consumption of materials has increased dramatically over the past 100 years, and all signs indicate that human demand for materials and energy won't subside.

The well-known goals of sustainability and the trade-offs among them drive the operational and planning processes of the mining industry, and they require integrated design of engineered systems - mining operations are virtually ever-changing small towns unto themselves.This is no easy task, and the training of mining engineers requires keen awareness of changing natural conditions and sensitivity to restoration of the disturbed earth to its original state.Operations must be profitable at the same time, and they are, like all industries, heavily regulated.