Dr Sarah Gordon will deliver the ESE Departmental Seminar on Thursday the 31st of October 2024: “Respecting our resources”.
Join us in room G41 – RSM Building – on Thursday 31st of October 2024 at 12h15.
Abstract
The energy transition relies on our ability to dramatically increase the diversity and volume of materials we have in circulation. Ideally these materials come from the stocks we have already liberated from the ground, however our increasing population, desire to develop economically, and need for increasingly complex forms of technology drives the need to continue to extract primary raw materials from our beautiful world of geology.
Mining is often perceived as being a destructive industry. However, if planned for and undertaken correctly, the provision of primary raw materials can form the catalyst for long term positive change for both the land and society. This can lead to improved biodiversity, capture of carbon, optimised management of water, and improved social and economic value. The value of a mine should therefore not be constrained only to the rock that is extracted.
This talk will explore the beauty of understanding the interconnections between the different natural resource ecosystems we are surrounded by. The opportunity to use the energy transition as the justification to re-think how we visualise and value the land around us, inclusive of rocks, soils, flora, fauna and people is not only fascinating, but fundamental.
About the speaker
Dr Sarah Gordon (Prof of Practice) is the new Co-Director of the Rio Tinto Centre for Future Materials at Imperial College. Having now returned to Earth Science and Engineering (where Sarah completed her PhD on the composition of primitive meteorites), she brings 15 years of experience working both in the mining industry and of running her own businesses and charities.
Sarah will continue in her role as CEO of the risk management and sustainability consultancy Satarla, a company that she co-founded in 2014. Now with >150 team members based around the world, Satarla delivers consultancy, training and research services to organisations including everything from mining and exploration, through to charities, government departments, banks, agriculture, healthcare, sport… She is also the co-founder of the not-for-profit Responsible Raw Materials, production company Critical Productions, and sustainability fieldwork centre Kowlahena. Through this portfolio of organisations, Sarah works with a myriad of clients to support them in discovering and delivering on their sustainability potential.
Sarah is regularly invited to advise organisations and governments on raw materials and is a member of the UK Government Expert Committee on Raw Materials. She is also a Trustee of Geology for Global Development, Women in Mining UK, and an Industry Advisor to both iCRAG and the Institute for Environmental Futures at the University of Leicester.