SIU to Host Earth Science Week Events on Critical Minerals

The theme for this year is “Critical Minerals for a Thriving Society,” highlighting the importance of these minerals in supporting essential needs and the impact of new technologies on their classification.

On Monday, October 12, Lahiru Jayakody, an associate professor of microbiology, will present on “Environmental Challenges of Plastic Pollution.” He will discuss the production of over 450 million metric tons of plastic each year, much of which is not properly managed, and its environmental implications. Jayakody’s team is working on using microbial systems to enable a circular economy for waste plastics.

Tuesday's talk, “Minerals in Agriculture,” presented by Erik Brevik, a professor of agronomy and geology, will cover how minerals are essential in modern agriculture for fertilization and soil management, as well as challenges facing global food security.

On Wednesday, October 14, Scott Hamilton-Brehm, an associate professor of microbiology, and Daniel Hummer, an associate professor of geology, will jointly discuss “Interdisciplinary Methods to Find/Harvest Critical Resources.” They will address the search for critical rare earth metals and the potential role of microbes in their extraction.

James Conder, director of SIU’s School of Earth Systems and Sustainability, will present “Earthquakes: Public Curiosity and Scientific Investigation” on Thursday. He will share insights from his work on seismic projects around the globe, detailing earthquake causes and patterns.

Finally, on Friday, October 16, Liliana Lefticariu, a professor of geology, will lead a workshop on “Locating/Mining Critical Minerals and Reclaiming Affected Land.” This session will focus on emerging extraction technologies and strategies for restoring lands impacted by mining activities.

For additional information, contact Larry Dunlap-Berg at [email protected].