Rick Honaker, University of Kentucky

Dr. Rick Q. Honaker is Professor of Mining Engineering and University Research Professor at the University of Kentucky. He received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Mining & Minerals Engineering from Virginia Tech. His research in extractive metallurgy has advanced technologies for concentrating and purifying critical materials, supported by more than $40 million in funding. He has authored over 260 publications, including 153 peer-reviewed journal articles, and holds eight U.S. patents and applications. A Fellow and Distinguished Member of SME, Dr. Honaker is a recipient of the AIME Frank F. Aplan Award (2007), the SME Robert H. Richards Award (2015), and the University of Kentucky Southeastern Conference Faculty Achievement Award (2025).

 His seminar is titled “From Ore to Electric Production: Processing Critical Materials for Next-Generation Energy Technologies”