Show Notes
It’s no secret the mining sector has experienced some recruitment challenges over the years. Things like public perception and a lack of trust, which we’ve explored in previous episodes, certainly deserve some of the blame. But if we’re going to ensure we have the materials we need for the green energy transition, the industry needs an influx of fresh talent.
In this season finale episode of Why We Mine, presented by Teck, host Robin Stickley sits down with three young up-and-comers from the University of British Columbia’s Geological Engineering program for a frank conversation about the pros and cons of a career in modern mining. They also discuss how the appeal has grown in recent years as the industry evolves, both technologically and philosophically. Finally, Robin is joined by Doctor Charlotte Gibson, the Associate Head of The Robert M. Buchan Department of Mining at Queen’s University, to find out what schools are doing to put young people on the path to a career in mining, and what they could be doing better.
More from Why We Mine
What is the role of Indigenous Peoples in the global race to secure the critical minerals we need for the green energy transition? And how can the mining industry and Indigenous communities work together to forge an equitable future?
It’s one of the first metals human beings ever mined, and the first to be smelted, cast into molds, and alloyed with another metal. And today, copper has become just as important to humankind as it was to those early Sumerian, Egyptian, and Roman civilizations. But why is it so critical, and why do we need so much of it?
The term “critical minerals” has been getting tossed around a lot lately. Most people know that certain elements are essential to many modern conveniences and technologies we take for granted, like our smartphones and electric cars. But which metals are we talking about exactly, why are they so important to the green energy transition, how much of them do we need, and what’s the mining industry’s role in helping meet that demand?
What is trust? How do you measure it? And more importantly, how do you earn it back once you’ve lost it? Those three questions are at the root of a growing conversation within the mining industry.
When it comes to how industries are portrayed in pop culture, mining companies probably wouldn't make the Top 5 list of the villains everyone loves to hate - but they might make the Top 10. From science fiction tentpoles like Dune, Avatar, and Star Wars, to TV shows like The Expanse and True Detective, and even fantasy franchises like The Lord of the Rings, characters and companies that mine are often depicted in a less-than-flattering way.