coursemapLoading course
Research School of Earth Sciences · ANU College of Science and Medicine
This course has a limit on enrolments, which is on a first-come-first-served basis What makes a mineral ‘critical’? Where are critical mineral deposits found? Who controls critical mineral supply chains? And what technologies do we need to mine and process critical minerals ethically and sustainably now and into the future? These sorts of questions are crucial for the energy transition, and cannot be answered using a single disciplinary approach. This cross-disciplinary unit thus aims to provide students with a 360° perspective of the critical minerals value chain and its relevance to the energy transition. The course will be designed for a cohort of students from diverse academic programs, so no prior knowledge is assumed. The course will bring together ANU scholars from across disciplines to cover a broad range of topics including environmental science, geology and mining, environmental impacts, geopolitics and political economy, macroeconomics and sociology. Students will develop skills to critically evaluate, report and communicate on current topics relating to critical minerals and the energy transition. This unit will provide a timely, societally relevant, innovative, and well-rounded foundation for students to proceed onto more specific areas of relevant study.
Group written sub-reports handed in weeks 2-11, based on chosen critical metal or critical metal group, aligned with the learning for that week. It is anticipated these sub-reports will be 4-5 pages in length.
Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Final written report which is an edited and structured compilation of the weekly reports
Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Peer assessed presentation of the final report (oral, poster, video etc.)
Learning outcomes 1, 6
The expected workload will consist of approximately 130 hours throughout the semester including: - Face-to-face component of approximately 60 hours over twelve weeks including 2x1 hour lectures per week and 1x3 hour practical session per week. - Approximately 70 hours of independent student research, reading, and writing.
There are no prescribed texts for this course.