Natural Resources Research Institute

09/01/2026

NRRI is proud to partner with NLR in the IMPACT alliance. Read about the Joint Research Alliance for Innovative Materials and Processing for Advanced Critical Technologies here: https://www.nlr.gov/news/detail/program/2026/nlr-nrri-partnership-advances-industry-scale-innovation-and-process-demonstration

08/27/2026

It’s peak season for one of Duluth’s most fascinating wildlife spectacles: the Common Nighthawk migration!

When to Watch
Every year from mid-August through early September, thousands of these acrobatic birds pass through the region on their way south. The biggest flights happen on warm, humid evenings when flying insects are out in full force—just look up before dusk to catch them swooping, diving, and feeding on the wing.

Monitoring the Migration
For over 15 years, NRRI’s Avian Ecology Lab has tracked this annual journey. Avian ecologist Steve Kolbe conducts nightly counts near the Lester River and has already tallied over 15,000 nighthawks this season alone.

Learn More
> Watch the Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory page for events and updates.
> Check out our short video for the annual migration count: https://youtu.be/peae-T7Gzr0
> Dive deeper into the data with this research paper: https://ace-eco.org/vol19/iss1/art9/

Photo by Steve Kolbe, NRRI.

08/17/2026

From Minnesota’s Iron Range to next-gen microchips?

Researchers from across the University of Minnesota, including NRRI, discovered that low-purity Minnesota iron ore can be turned directly into semiconductor-grade pyrite—no extra purification needed. This discovery could open up a new revenue stream for a global industry, with a broad spectrum of applications in technologies, from solar panels and batteries to everyday electronics, based on a natural resource found abundantly in Minnesota.

Read how local resources could reshape future tech: https://cse.umn.edu/college/news/minnesota-iron-ore-could-be-key-sustainable-and-lower-cost-semiconductor

PHOTO: Professor Chris Leighton (right) and graduate student Yeon Lee (left) have demonstrated that a certain grade of iron ore found in Minnesota could be the key to the sustainability of future electronics. Photo by Kalie Pluchel, University of Minnesota

This work was funded by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR). The ENRTF is a permanent fund in Minnesota that provides funding for the protection and conservation of Minnesota's natural resources.

08/14/2026

The future of steelmaking is evolving—and Minnesota’s Iron Range is positioned to lead it.

Reporter Brian Martucci breaks down the new tech and mining business shaping the next few decades. Story link: https://bit.ly/4x2yw06

📸 Erica Dischino

08/08/2026

UMN's NRRI has launched a new Direct Reduced Iron simulator—about 20x larger than standard test models—to help de-risk iron refining innovations for MN’s mining industry.

Details from : https://bit.ly/4fUU87k

08/07/2026

A new national-level study finds 84% of U.S. coastal wetlands are gradually submerging as rising sea levels outpace sediment buildup.

Research along the three coasts of the contiguous United States reveals that our most valuable coastal buffers—which protect infrastructure, shield communities from storm surges, and support local economies—are losing ground, with the Gulf Coast hit hardest.

The encouraging news? Up to 73% of these wetlands may still have room to migrate inland, provided we implement smart land management solutions like restoring sediment flows and protecting open pathways.

Read the full study highlights from American Geophysical Union:
https://news.agu.org/press-release/rising-seas-are-swallowing-the-vast-majority-of-us-coastal-wetlands/

08/06/2026

Can wildfire smoke impact the fish in Minnesota's lakes?

A look into how forest fires release stored mercury into watersheds—and what that means for local water quality and wildlife.

As fires become more prevalent, scientists are just beginning to study their impact on the state’s aquatic ecosystems.

08/05/2026

“Most advanced treatment systems could likely handle the impacts of smoke deposition on these lakes,” said Chris Filstrup, a lakes and streams scientist at the University of Minnesota's Natural Resources Research Institute. “But I think there’s more concern for smoke exposure in rural areas where maybe there isn’t an advanced treatment system, and what those impacts might look like.”

Read more: https://www.minnpost.com/drinking-water/2026/07/what-falling-wildfire-ash-means-for-minnesotans-who-get-their-drinking-water-from-lakes/

Water treatment facilities can handle wildfire pollution, but Minnesotans who use private drinking water systems may want to take precautions

08/03/2026

“Driving innovation and economic opportunity across Minnesota is foundational to our mission as Minnesota’s land-grant university,” said University of Minnesota President Rebecca Cunningham. “This project brings together the best of the University and NRRI to deliver economic strength to, and drive future industrial innovation in, Minnesota. We are proud to be a vital part of this new capability, which will significantly benefit Minnesota, our nation and world.”
https://www.mesabitribune.com/news/nrri-launches-first-of-its-kind-dri-simulator-to-advance-next-generation-of-ironmaking/article_f7877b7c-3c46-488b-ba4e-2f10490a1cbd.html

COLERAINE—The University of Minnesota’s Natural Resources Research Institute officially launched its new Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) Simulator on Thursday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its Coleraine research facility, marking what

07/31/2026

An extremely exciting day for NRRI yesterday as we unveiled our DRI Simulator at the Coleraine Labs.

The University of Minnesota’s Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) is set to deliver a pilot-scale Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) Simulator in Coleraine. This globally unique research platform will give domestic iron ore producers and steelmakers advanced testing capabilities to optimize iron formulations, safeguard the long-term competitiveness of Minnesota’s iron resources, and de-risk major industrial investments.

Equipping Minnesota to lead the evolution of domestic industrial manufacturing, the simulator allows researchers and industrial partners to:

• Replicate real-world shaft furnace conditions across a wide range of temperatures, pressures, and gas mixtures.
• Perform pilot-scale testing at 20 times the scale of current industry standard tests.
• Analyze reduction chemistry in real-time using advanced gas monitoring.
• Evaluate next-generation technologies, including new feedstock blends, and regional ore feedstocks.

Developed with foundational support from the Minnesota State Legislature, key backing through the Department of Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (DIRRR), federal investment from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and direct input from major steel industry leaders, this project shows what happens when vision and collaboration align.

Thank you to UMN President Rebecca Cunningham, the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), and our incredible engineering, construction, and industry partners for standing with us to make the impossible possible.

Read more: https://twin-cities.umn.edu/news-events/university-minnesotas-natural-resources-research-institute-unveils-first-its-kind-dri