Montana Tech to host Iron and Steelmaking Days, connecting students with industry

Montana Technological University will host Iron and Steelmaking Days on February 17-18, 2026, in the Student Union Building. The event is a new campus-wide event designed to introduce current students to careers, research, and hands-on experiences in iron and steel production—one of the world’s most essential and fast-growing industries.

The event is organized by Basak Anameric, Montana Tech’s Nucor Professor, and is supported through the American Iron and Steel Institute of Technology (AIST) Foundation’s Kent D. Peaslee Junior Faculty Award. The award is intended to strengthen iron and steelmaking education on university campuses and to spark student interest in metallurgy and related engineering fields.

“I am honored and humbled to receive the AIST Foundation, 2025-2026 Kent D. Peasle Junior Faculty Award,” Anameric said. “This recognition reflects the partnership between iron and steel industry, AIST, Montana Tech, and its students. Dr. Peaslee was a champion for education, research, and industry partnership. I will carry the torch he lit, encouraging the next generation of engineers to serve in iron, steel and supporting industries.”

“This award is about bringing more iron and steelmaking to Montana Tech and getting students excited about metallurgy,” she continued. “The first step is connecting students directly with industry—hearing what employers want, seeing how steel is made, and understanding the range of opportunities available.”

Iron and steel producers and supporting industries such as Nucor, Steel Dynamics and Opta already recruit Montana Tech graduates, but Anameric hopes the event will broaden those connections and expose students to additional employers, technologies and career paths.

“Steelmaking isn’t just for metallurgy and materials science students,” Anameric said. “Mechanical, civil, environmental and electrical engineers, welders, designers and construction professionals all play major roles. We want students from across campus to see where they fit into this industry.”

Iron and steelmaking remains a global growth industry, producing nearly two billion metric tons annually and supporting everything from infrastructure and renewable energy to transportation and manufacturing. Entry-level salaries for steel industry positions are often higher than average engineering starting wages, and the industry offers long-term career mobility across different technologies and facilities.

Iron and Steelmaking Days will feature a full slate of activities aimed at both learning and networking, including:

• Lectures from industry professionals
• A roundtable discussion with students, faculty and industry representatives on what employers are looking for in today’s workforce
• AIST presentations on student scholarships and internship opportunities
• Hands-on laboratory demonstrations
• Lunch and a social hour with industry professionals
• Industry partner information sessions and a mini career fair

The roundtable discussion is one of Anameric’s most anticipated components of the day.

“When I was an undergraduate, I constantly wondered if I was doing the right things to become a good engineer,” she said. “This is a space where students can ask those questions directly and get honest feedback from industry professionals.”

Laboratory demonstrations will showcase iron and steelmaking concepts in action—an experience Anameric credits with sparking her own passion for the field.

“Seeing molten metal for the first time is unforgettable,” she said. “That orange glow hooked me. I hope these demonstrations help students feel that same excitement.”

In addition to current Montana Tech students, Anameric hopes to expand the program in future years to include K–12 outreach, introducing younger students to metallurgy and engineering before they choose a college major.

“Many students pick a major without fully understanding what it involves,” she said. “If they learn about metallurgy early, they may discover an interest they didn’t know they had.”

Iron and Steelmaking Day is open to students across disciplines, with no attendance cap. Demonstration sessions will scale based on interest, allowing more students to participate as registration grows.

“I want students to walk away with something useful—whether that’s career advice, a new industry contact, or a clearer picture of their future,” Anameric said.

By bringing industry leaders, faculty and students together in one space, Montana Tech aims to strengthen its role as a pipeline for the iron and steel industry while giving students practical insight into one of engineering’s most enduring fields.

For students considering careers in engineering, skilled trades or manufacturing, Iron and Steelmaking Day offers a chance to see how classroom learning translates into real-world impact—and how steel continues to shape the modern world.

 To register, click here. 

Students can complete a survey here before the event to submit questions for the roundtable discussion.