New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

The New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, also known as New Mexico Tech (NMT) is a state university in Socorro in the Rio Grande Valley, New Mexico, founded in 1889 as the New Mexico School of Mines.

New Mexico Tech offers 30 undergraduate degrees in technology, science, engineering, management and technical communications, as well as masters and doctoral level degrees. Minors are also available in some humanities and social sciences, such as history, Latin American studies, and philosophy.

Each of the 1,900 students must take six basic science courses: two in calculus, two in physics and two in chemistry. They must also complete a “capstone project”; for instance, those studying engineering must complete the Senior Design clinic, which involves team-based, real-world projects that often pair students with private companies, government agencies or branches of the military.

The university has research divisions that work with private industry, government agencies and other universities, employing undergraduate students and offering research opportunities for graduate students.

Facilities include an 18-hole golf course and a 150,000 gallon outdoor swimming pool. There are also opportunities for rock-climbing, mountain biking and hiking in the surrounding mountainous landscape. The university also owns a volcano observatory atop Mount Erebus in the Antarctic.

In 2008, the university bought the town of Playas, New Mexico to use as a research and training facility for the university’s first responders and counter-terrorism programmes.

Alumni include founder of the Hilton hotel chain Conrad Hilton and Chief Engineer of the US Nuclear Weapons Center Dr Wally Clark.