We'll explore how the water-energy-material nexus could impede the energy transition. The talk will focus on mining and how water consumption levels could impede this industry's expansion in the US, specifically for lithium and copper mining. I will also discuss our work to understand how concerns over water surface in public comments about mining projects. We'll discuss data gaps in our understanding of how mining affects water quality. The presentation will conclude with an international, interdisciplinary research agenda that was co-developed with partners in Chile, Australia, and Canada and puts water at the core of improving mining as a key player in the energy transition.
Speaker: Jennifer Dunn
Professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Director, Thriving Planet Institute
Director, Center for Engineering Sustainability and Resilience