The Energy and Minerals Field Institute (EMFI), founded in 1978, designs and conducts programs to familiarize selected audiences with the realities of resource development in the Western United States.

The Institute conducts field programs that take participants to energy and mineral production sites, processing facilities, impacted communities, and related resource developments.

Participants include policymakers from key Federal and State governments, organizations, agencies, committees, and their offices.

The Institute also conducts regional conferences and workshops on topical issues related to Western resource development. Since its inception, the EMFI has conducted field programs in 11 Western states plus Mexico, visited literally hundreds of sites, and hosted over 900 individuals on its annual field programs.

The Government Field Programs are funded primarily through tuition payments from a wide range of federal agencies.

Institute sponsorship provides benefits through the transfer of knowledge, the definition of issues, and the clarification of perspectives. Institute programs probe the technical, economic, environmental, social, institutional, and political aspects of many issues related to resource development.

The role of the Institute is to facilitate, not advocate; and as such, provides forums in which the transfer of ideas can effectively take place.