Select Page

Foundations of Responsible Innovation

Building solutions in global context

Foundations of Responsible Innovation

Scientists and engineers aspire to improve our world through innovation. To achieve this, it is paramount that our research incorporates social, cultural, economic, political, ethical, and environmental considerations. At Mines, we have created a research culture that seeks to understand the human experience and its intersections with science, engineering, and the environment. This integrative perspective is the foundation of impactful and responsible research and innovation.  Explore our Foundations research by focus area:

Intersections of Science, Policy, & Governance

American Politics and Government in Crisis

Intersections of Science, Policy, & Governance

Examining processes of policymaking and governance and engaging with decision-makers to leverage Mines’ technical expertise and address the most pressing challenges of our world.

View the researchers working on Intersections of Science, Policy, & Governance or find researchers by topic:

Design Justice
Energy Justice
Energy Policy
Energy Security
Environmental Justice
Environmental Policy
Policy Analysis
Public Trust in Science & Technology
Regulatory Policy
Resource & Sustainability Policy
Science Communication
Science Diplomacy
Science / Policy Interface
Social & Political Studies of Engineering
Socially Responsible Engineering
Sociotechnical Integration
Sustainable Resource Management
Systems Thinking

Engineering Global Sustainability

Exploring the interconnection between environmental stewardship, social equity, and economic growth to build a resilient and sustainable future.

View the researchers working on Engineering Global Sustainability or find researchers by topic:

Advanced Recycling Technologies
Advanced Resource Recovery
Circular Economy
Clean Technology Innovation
Climate Resilience
Decarbonization Strategies
Electrical Grid Resilience
Energy Systems Optimization
Energy Transition
Energy-Water Nexus
Integrated Resource Planning
Integrated Water Resource Management
Product Lifecycle & Sustainable Design
Reducing Emissions
Renewable & Alternative Energy Integration
Resilient Building Design
Resilient Communities
Resilient Infrastructure
Resource & Sustainability Policy
Social Impacts of Science & Technology
Socially Responsible Engineering
Sustainable Manufacturing & Processes
Sustainable Remediation Practices
Sustainable Resource Management
Systems Thinking
Waste Minimization
Waste to Resource
Water Reuse & Recycling
Human hand holding green environmental tree ESG icon

Engineering Global Sustainability

Economic Feasibility & Social Acceptance

Hand touching virtual world with connection network.

Economic Feasibility & Social Acceptance

Understanding the economic and social drivers that influence resource and technology development and adoption in communities across the globe.

View researchers working on Economic Feasibility & Social Acceptance or find researchers by topic:

Community Development
Community Engagement
Community-Based Research
Economic Modeling
Energy & Society
Energy Economics
Innovation Adoption Barriers
International Trade & Energy Markets
Public Trust in Science & Technology
Resource Economics
Responsible Innovation
Social & Political Studies of Engineering
Social Accountability & Acceptance
Social Impacts of Science & Technology
Socially Responsible Engineering
Sociotechnical Integration
Systems Thinking
Techno-Economic Analysis

Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Identifying sociotechnical opportunities and delving into the factors that promote entrepreneurship to transforms ideas into market-ready products and services.

View researchers working on Entrepreneurship & Innovation or find researchers by topic:

Clean Technology Innovation
Entrepreneurial Mindset / Learning
Human-Centered Design / Design Thinking
Innovation & Entrepreneurship Education
Innovation Adoption Barriers
Innovation Ecosystems
Innovation in Engineering
Innovation Theory
Makerspaces in STEM Education
Product & Business Development
Product Lifecycle & Sustainable Design
Project-Based Learning
Responsible Innovation
Systems Thinking
Technology Readiness
Technology Transfer
Use-Inspired Research
Vertically Integrated Projects
Hand holding drawing virtual lightbulb

Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Communication & Public Engagement

Aerial view of crowd connected by lines

Communication & Public Engagement

Exploring how attention to social context can inform research development, enhance public accountability of science and engineering, and inspire community interest in science.

View researchers working on Communication & Public Engagement or find researchers by topic:

Accessible & Inclusive Communication
Community Development
Community Engagement
Community-Based Research
Convergent Research
Public Trust in Science & Technology
Qualitative Research Methodology
Risk Communication
Science Communication
Science Diplomacy
Science Literacy
Science / Policy Interface
Social & Political Studies of Engineering
Social Accountability & Acceptance
Social Impacts of Science & Technology
Socially Responsible Engineering
Sociotechnical Integration
STEM Outreach & Education
STEM Outreach & Education

Ethics & Values

Investigating the inherent ethical dimensions of science, engineering, and society to promote responsible research and actions that are aligned with diverse human values.

View researchers working on Ethics & Values or find researchers by topic:

Corporate Social Responsibility
Data Ethics
Design Justice
Energy Justice
Engineering & Social Justice
Engineering Identity
Engineering Judgment
Environmental Justice
Equitable Access to STEM
Ethics in STEM
Human Robot Interaction
Human-Centered Computing
Human-Centered Design / Design Thinking
Responsible Innovation
Science & Technology Studies
Socially Responsible Engineering
STEM Librarianship
Business ethics concept.

Ethics & Values

Transforming Engineering Education & STEM Workforce

Student learning STEM Education robotics for creating project based studying for innovation robot model.

Transforming Engineering Education & STEM Workforce

Understanding student learning and developing project-based experiences that integrate the environmental, social, and technical dimensions of STEM education to build an innovative and ethical future workforce.

View researchers working on Transforming Engineering Education & STEM Workforce or find researchers by topic:

Asset-Based Pedagogies / Funds of Knowledge
Design Methodology & Theory
Design Practice
Education Research & Theory
Educational Tools & Technology
Engineering Education Program Reform
Engineering Educational Innovation
Engineering Identity
Entrepreneurial Mindset / Learning
Equitable Access to STEM
Ethics in STEM
Evidence-Based Instructional Practices
Experiential Learning
Human-Centered Design / Design Thinking
Inclusive Teaching & Learning
Innovation & Entrepreneurship Education
Interdisciplinary Education
Makerspaces in STEM Education
Open Educational Resources
Project-Based Learning
Scholarship of Teaching & Learning
Science & Technology Studies
Sociotechnical Integration
STEM Librarianship
STEM Outreach & Education
Systems Thinking
Vertically Integrated Projects
Workforce Readiness in STEM

International Relations & Global Studies

Studying the international dimensions of social, technical, and environmental systems, and engaging with the global community of researchers and leaders working to build a better global future.

View researchers working on International Relations & Global Studies or find researchers by topic:

Conflict & Resource Management
Convergent Research
Cross-Cultural Collaboration
Energy Policy
Energy Security
Energy Transition
Geopolitics
Global Energy Markets
Global Supply Chains
International Development
International Trade & Energy Markets
Resource Economics
Science Diplomacy
Science / Policy Interface
People sitting at a table working together with a world map in the background.

International Relations & Global Studies