Minerals take the spotlight in the 2022 College of Science Lecture Series
Minerals are the focus of the 2022 College of Science Lecture Series.
Carmala Garzione, dean of the College of Science
The Alfie Norville Gem & Mineral Museum celebrated its grand opening on Feb. 3 in its larger, newly renovated space in the Pima County Historic Courthouse. This year's College of Science Lecture Series will delve into the importance of minerals. (Photo by Chris Richards/University of Arizona)
The 17th annual College of Science Lecture Series, which continues through April 7 in a hybrid format, features faculty members discussing the origins of minerals, the stories they tell and the future of critical minerals in society.
"It has been more than two years since the College of Science has hosted a live lecture series, and we are very excited to welcome audiences back to Centennial Hall," said Carmala Garzione, dean of the College of Science and professor of geosciences. "We have a tremendous lineup of faculty presenters who will share their deep understanding on a fascinating and diverse range of topics, from what minerals tell us about the history of our solar system and planet to the future of mining and sustainable mining practices."
The free lecture series takes place in person at Centennial Hall and will be livestreamed on YouTube. Doors open to the public at 6 p.m. Presentations begin at 7 p.m. and last about an hour. For the safety of all attendees, face masks are required inside Centennial Hall.
The lecture series comes on the heels of February's reopening of the University's Alfie Norville Gem & Mineral Museum. The world-class collection of gems and minerals can be found in its new space in the Pima County Historic Courthouse.
The series began March 3 with a presentation from Bob Downs, professor emeritus of geosciences and former curator of the Gem & Mineral Museum, about the evolution of minerals through geologic time and their vast societal impacts.
See the remaining schedule for the lecture series below.
March 10 – The Stories That Minerals Tell
Mauricio Ibañez-Mejia, Assistant Professor, Department of Geosciences
"How old is the Earth?" It's a question scientists have researched for centuries. In this talk, Ibañez-Mejia will explore how minerals serve as time capsules of terrestrial and cosmic evolution, and how they can be used to reconstruct the time scales of our planet. The rocks, fossils, mountains and landforms all around us tell a fascinating story.
March 17 – Gems and Planetary Evolution
Ananya Mallik, Assistant Professor, Department of Geosciences
Gems are revered throughout history for their natural beauty. They also serve as a time machine for our planet. In this talk, Mallik will discuss how diamonds, jades and rubies are studied to better understand the evolution of Earth, and how minerals can serve as an X-ray of the planet's inner layers.
March 31 – Arizona, Copper and Critical Minerals
Isabel Barton, Assistant Professor, Department of Mining and Geological Engineering
As a society, we need metals and minerals more than ever to maintain our technological advances. The state of Arizona will have a large part to play in those efforts. In this talk, Barton will explore the impact of critical minerals found in Arizona and the importance of meeting resource demands in the future.
April 7 – Mining in A Greener Future
Raina Maier, Professor, Department of Environmental Sciences; Director, University of Arizona Superfund Research Program; member of the BIO5 Institute
Do you own a smartphone, TV or electric car? It takes a complex mix of metals to create each device. The future of mining is green, and there are currently no viable options for traditional mining of metals. In this closing talk of the series, Maier will discuss our dependence on metals and possibilities for disruptive change in how we mine metals in the future.