Events
Get More out of your Conference Experience
Meet new acquaintances and reconnect with colleagues by attending the events at the MINEXCHANGE 2023 SME Annual Conference & Expo and CMA 125th National Western Mining Conference. It’s never been more important to connect with industry professionals.
2023 SME MEDIA CONTEST
Sunday, Feb. 26 – Wednesday, March 1
This year's theme is "Envisioning Mining Success | Critical Minerals". Winning media will be displayed at the MINEXCHANGE SME Annual Conference & Expo and CMA 125th National Western Mining Conference.
Make sure to check out the winners on display.
View more information smenet.org/photocontest.
Media Contest Sponsored by:
SME/NSSGA STUDENT DESIGN COMPETITION: FINAL PRESENTATIONS
Sunday, February 26, 2023 | 7:00 am – 3:00 pm
The SME/NSSGA Student Design competition is a two-phase, team-based competition involving an aggregate mining technical design and an oral presentation. The technical design phase takes place during the first semester of the school year on each team's campus. In the second phase of the competition, students have one weekend to solve a design problem and present their findings to a panel of judges. The competition is designed to simulate an engineering project prepared by an engineering group for a company. Past problems have highlighted the challenges of mine planning, plant design, reserve modeling, and feasibility analysis.
Sponsored by:
Platinum sponsor: National Sand, Stone & Gravel Association (NSSGA)
Title sponsors: Vulcan Materials and Luck Stone
Supporting sponsors: New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co., Inc. and Cedar Mountain Stone
SME METALLIC STUDENT DESIGN COMPETITION: FINAL PRESENTATIONS
Sunday, February 26, 2023 | 7:00 am – 5:00 pm
The Metallic Student Design Competition (SDC) is a two-phase, team-based hard rock competition focused on the evaluation of a mineral deposit (precious/base metal or industrial mineral) and the development of a potential flowsheet and process design.
The Metallic competition is conducted in two phases. The first phase is the technical design phase, which takes place during the first semester of the school year on each team's campus. In the second phase of the competition, students have one weekend to develop a solution to the Phase 2 problem and present their findings to a panel of judges.
Sponsored by:
STUDENT ENGAGEMENT BREAKFAST
Sunday, February 26, 2023 | 9:00 am – 11:00 am
The Student Engagement Breakfast gives students the unique opportunity to connect with industry leaders and learn special insight into new technologies used in the mining industry today. The breakfast is sponsored annually by mining companies to showcase emerging technology and innovation. All student attendees are invited to the breakfast. Contact Mona Vandervoort at vandervoort@smenet.org for more information.
Sponsored by:
SME STUDENT FORUM
Sunday, February 26, 2023 | Noon – 1:30 pm
Join us and our executive sponsor Newmont for an exciting lunch and interactive program. Celebrate with your peers as we announce the winner of the SME Outstanding Student Chapter Contest, the Student Chapter MEC Award, and the 2022 Student Membership Challenge winner.
Sponsored by:
GRADUATE STUDENT POSTER CONTEST
Sunday, February 26, 2023 | 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Monday, February 27, 2023 | 11:00 am – 5:30 pm
Tuesday, February 28, 2023 | 11:00 am – 5:30 pm
The contest provides an opportunity for graduate students to showcase their work in a visible setting and to compete for cash prizes based on the quality of their posters as determined by a team of judges.
Title sponsor:
Supporting sponsor: Freeport-McMoRan
EXHIBIT HALL GRAND OPENING RECEPTION
Sunday, Feb. 26 | 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Kick off the conference with drinks and hors-d’oeuvres for the grand opening of the exhibit hall. With more than 750 exhibitors, this reception is a great time to start networking and learning what the exhibitors have to offer.
Food and Beverage Sponsored by:
JOBS OF TOMORROW VIEWS & BREWS
Sunday, Feb. 26 | 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Sponsored by:
Supported by: Brooks & Nelson
SME FOUNDATION GALA DINNER AND SILENT AUCTION*
Sunday, Feb. 26 | 6:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Celebrate the Night in Black & White! Enjoy mingling with themed cocktails, a silent auction, dinner and awards program. The Gala Dinner will be followed by an after-dinner reception with dessert, drinks, entertainment and dancing. This event always sells out, so purchase your tickets with conference registration.
Learn more about the SME Foundation Dinner and other sponsored events at SME Foundation or contact us at smefoundation@smenet.org.
Gala Title Sponsor:
Gala Wine sponsored by:
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Gala Cocktail Reception sponsor:
Gala Door Prizes sponsored by:
After Party sponsor:
7th ANNUAL SME HEALTH & SAFETY DIVISION 5K RUN*
Monday, Feb. 27 | 6:00 am - 8:00 am | City Park, Denver, CO
Meet at the Colorado Convention Center, Room 105 at 6:00 am. Buses will depart at 6:30 am.
In the event of inclement weather such as snow or excessive ice on the course that would make the event unsafe, the annual 5K fun run/walk will be a virtual event. Participants will be notified with the MINEXCHANGE App, email and in person. Shirts will be distributed at 6 am at the Colorado Convention Center, Room 105.
Sponsored by:
EXHIBIT HALL LUNCH
Monday, Feb. 27 | 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
This lunch on the exhibit hall floor allows you to grab a bite to eat and connect with our exhibitors before the technical program begins at 2:00 pm.
Food and Beverage Sponsored by: JENNMAR
SME AND KOMATSU STUDENT & PROFESSOR ENGAGEMENT RECEPTION
Monday, February 27, 2023 | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Come one, come all to the favorite student event at the SME Annual Conference & Expo each year! Watch for more details coming soon!
Sponsored by:
MONDAY NIGHT SOCIAL AND PIELC FUNDRAISER
Monday, Feb. 27 | 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm | Lucky Strike Denver
Sponsored by:
Back by popular demand, the SME Young Leaders are hosting the Monday Night Social at Lucky Strike again in Denver! Lucky Strike in the inaugural venue for this event and we’re excited to be back! All are welcome and encouraged to join us for bowling, billiards, shuffleboard and Ping-Pong. Food and great company are also included. Space is limited so be sure to purchase your ticket early during registration for the MINEXCHANGE 2023 SME Annual Conference & Expo and CMA 125th National Western Mining Conference. All conference attendees ages 21 and up are welcome and encouraged to attend. $20 cover charge applies.
STUDENT FIRST AID/CPR TRAINING
Tuesday, Feb.28 | 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Organized by the SME Young Leaders and the Health & Safety Division
- Kimberly Walster, Behavior Based Safety & Training Specialist, Prairie State Generating Company
- Adam Gregor, Director Safety and Health, Coeur Mining, Inc.
Hands-on First aid essentials training for students in the mining industry, in coordination with the Health and Safety Division. This training aims to cover all major aspects of First Aid and CPR using modern equipment and practical knowledge from experienced safety experts in the Mining Industry.
EXHIBIT HALL AFTERNOON SOCIAL
Tuesday, February 28 | 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Take some time to relax and walk the exhibit hall on Tuesday afternoon during the Afternoon Social. All attendees are welcome to come and walk the hall during the social while enjoying a drink and light snacks.
Food and Beverage Sponsored by: JENNMAR
Colorado Mining Association Reception (Colorado Pavilion) Signature Cocktail Sponsored by: Energy Fuels
MPD SCOTCH NIGHTCAP*
Tuesday, February 28 | 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Proceeds from this event support MPD’s scholarship and award funds, helping those who want to make a career in the industry and recognizing those who have made extraordinary contributions to the industry. In addition to the scotch tasting, there will be light snacks, desserts, cocktails and other drinks. Mineral-processing rock band Bass Metals is back by popular demand, with their "Rocky Mountain Reverberations!" tour.
Supporting Sponsors: Molycop, Unified Purchasing Group (UPG), and Ausenco
MPD STUDENT POSTER CONTEST
Wednesday, March 1, 2023 | 8:00 am – Noon
The Mineral & Metallurgical Processing Division invites all graduate and undergraduate students with a research topic related to mineral processing or extractive metallurgy to participate in the MPD Student Poster Contest! You will have an invaluable opportunity to present and highlight your work in a fun environment, and network with industry and academic professionals. All accepted contestants receive complimentary tickets to the MPD Luncheon and are awarded attractive cash prizes of $125 up to $1,000.
For contest guidelines, visit: https://www.smenet.org/Professional-Development/Awards-Competitions/MPD-Division-Student-Poster-Contest
EXHIBIT HALL LUNCH
Wednesday, March 1 | 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Take advantage of this last chance to connect with exhibitors and enjoy lunch in the exhibit hall.
Food and Beverage Sponsored by: JENNMAR
SME/AIME AWARDS CELEBRATION*
Wednesday, March 1 | 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm
As the closing event of MINEXCHANGE, the SME/AIME Awards Banquet brings together hundreds of industry professionals to celebrate the achievements and milestones of SME’s remarkable innovators, leaders and experts.
*Denotes an event that requires an additional ticket to attend.
**Attendees must register for MINEXCHANGE to attend social functions. Multiple tickets for each event may be purchased.