MONASH SCIENCE
CRITICAL MINERALS Why are they the key to a net zero future? ABOUT THIS EVENT Welcome to our first Science Alumni Event of 2024. It is a great opportunity for you to reconnect with the Faculty of Science and your fellow alumni. The Ignitor events are designed for the benefit of lifelong learning of our alumni, by providing access to new research undertaken by the Faculty of Science. At this event, our researchers will talk about what critical minerals are and why they are essential for our transition to clean energy technologies and a net zero future. They will also elaborate on the critical minerals landscape in Australia, and how Australia can lead the exploration and production of these minerals and the impact it has on the global economy and geopolitics. Our panel will further explain how Monash Science researchers are looking at innovative and sustainable solutions to address the global critical mineral crisis.
EVENT DETAILS Title: Critical Minerals: Why are they the key to a net zero future? _____________________________ Time: 5.30 - 8.30 pm (Registration starts at 5.15 pm) ______________________________ Location: Monash Law Chambers, 555 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000 ______________________________
Panellists:
EVENT PROGRAM: 21 March 2024
Professor Andrew Tomkins - School of Earth Atmosphere and Environment
5.15 - 5.45 pm
Associate Professor Vanessa Wong School of Earth Atmosphere and Environment Dr Andrew J Frierdich Senior Lecturer and Geologist School of Earth Atmosphere and Environment ______________________________ Moderator: Mary Harris (Alum) - Sustainability Geoscientist - Newmont
Registration / Pre-event Networking _____________________________ 5.45 - 5.50 pm Welcome by Alumni Engagement Manager, Udeshika Wijewardena _____________________________ 5.50 - 6.00 pm Faculty Update by the Dean of the Faculty of Science, Professor Jordan Nash _____________________________ 6.00 - 6.35 pm
CRITICAL MINERALS: WHY ARE THEY THE KEY TO A NET ZERO FUTURE?
Speaker Presentations
Critical minerals such as Copper, Lithium, Nickel, Cobalt and rare earth elements are essential components in many of today’s rapidly growing clean energy technologies, electric vehicles, wind turbines, solar panels etc.These minerals are much more difficult to find, extract and process than other metals, and are sometimes located in environmentally sensitive areas.
Q & A Session
Our panel will talk on these topics, What are critical minerals and why is there a critical mineral crisis? Can we ever be mining free in the future? How can we mine and process minerals sustainably? Responsible mining and thorough effective remediation after mining.
_____________________________ 6.35 - 7.00 pm
_____________________________ 7.00 - 7.05 pm Thank You _____________________________ 7.05 - 8.30 pm Networking