Events & Courses

Up until the mid 20th Century, very few metallic elements in the periodic table had any practical use. Since then, mankind has broadened its pallet of useful metals enormously to take in so-called ‘rare’, ‘critical’, ‘exotic’ or ‘technology’ materials, including rare earth elements, platinum group elements and others, from antimony to zirconium.  This expansion has been pulled along by the development of new digital technologies and their almost magical appeal to billions of consumers across the globe.

This talk uses the ubiquitous mobile phone to illustrate the importance of these metals and to explore issues around supply security and ‘criticality’. This will include a look at ideas related to metal supply from geological and other sources, and may challenge some commonly-held assumptions relating to nonrenewable mineral resources and physical scarcity.

It will also look at the human factors that influence metal availability and the environmental limits to our conspicuous consumption of these vital raw materials.

Time

7.00pm, refreshments from 6.30pm

Cost

Free

Speaker

Andrew Bloodworth, BGS

Andrew is responsible for BGS research related to mineral and metal resource management and security, the future safe geological disposal of radioactive waste, as well as energy topics related to renewables, energy storage and clean coal.  

Andrew’s research interests include resource security and critical raw materials, regulatory issues associated with minerals extraction and the impact of mining on the developing world. 

Venue

Gass Building, School of Environment, Earth & Ecosystem Sciences, Open University, Milton Keynes

Further information

The Gass Lecture Theatre is accessible from the East Spur, off East Lane on the Walton Hall Campus.

For further information and a map showing parking and a walking route from the Inner East car park, see the attached flyer.