Rare Earth Minerals:  Critical Geopolitics, Economics & Environmental Issues

The first in a series of three talks on minerals this summer, to complement our exhibition Riches of the Earth. The following two talks are on 27 June, The Age of Minerals and 12 July, Mineral Pigments in Archaeology & Art History.

Critical earth minerals are essential to everything today.  Our technology, from the iPhone and smart fridge to advanced batteries and supercomputers, critical earth minerals enable our transition to a cleaner economy and what many call the Fourth Industrial Revolution. However, many in government, business, and science spheres have raised concerns about how to ensure the West’s continued supply of these critical earth minerals, considering the dominance of China & Russia in this market. This lecture explores the complicated intersection between geopolitics, economics, and environmental science in light of this pressing challenge.