A Rock and A Hard Place
Mineral Choices
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Top 10 A Rock and A Hard Place Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best A Rock and A Hard Place episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to A Rock and A Hard Place for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite A Rock and A Hard Place episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
Steve LeVine Part 2
A Rock and A Hard Place
04/29/22 • 13 min
Steve LeVine, editor of EV battery publication The Electric, continues his conversation with our host Thomas Hale. They address the need to educate the next generation about critical mineral security, the effect of the Ukraine invasion on global supply chains and the challenges of NIMBYism about mining in the USA.
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Suzanne Green
A Rock and A Hard Place
02/11/22 • 10 min
In the final episode of Series 1, Suzanne Green joins Dr. Saleem Ali to discuss the circular economy and the lifecycle carbon trade-off between using plastic, metals & glass. They also speak about how universities & scientific institutions can better assist mineral-reliant industries as they work together to create a more sustainable world.
Economic Geology with Simon Jowitt
A Rock and A Hard Place
02/17/23 • 16 min
Join us for season four of A Rock & A Hard Place! In this first episode, I sit down with Dr. Simon Jowitt, associate professor of economic geology at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. We look at the field of economic geology, or the scientific discipline concerned with the distribution of mineral deposits, the economic considerations involved in their recovery, and the assessment of the reserves available. Simon also discusses some of his latest work on looking at the impact of COVID-19 on the mineral supply chain and how the global pandemic and geopolitical tensions with China may change the way we think about raw materials and their supply chains.
Dr. Alex Speer Part 1
A Rock and A Hard Place
03/25/22 • 14 min
In the first part of this conversation, our host Thomas Hale talks to Dr. Alex Speer about his journey into the world of minerals, the importance of minerology in our day-to-day lives, and the complex questions of selecting optimal mineral extraction techniques in different situations.
It should be noted that this episode was recorded before the recent invasion of Ukraine.
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Stakeholder & Indigenous Engagement in the Mining Sector
A Rock and A Hard Place
06/08/23 • 23 min
This week I am joined by Rob Karpati, Senior Advisor at The Blended Capital Group in Toronto, Canada. Rob is a pragmatic finance leader with thirty plus years of multinational experience, focusing his efforts in the last few years on responsible mining and the artisanal mining sector. In this first episode with Rob, we speak more broadly about stakeholder engagement which is a central component of sustainable development in the mining sector. Rob provides some insights and advice on what successful engagement looks like and how we can work together to turn potential conflict and differences into opportunities for collaboration and achieving our shared energy future. Rob also speaks about human security challenges in the mining sector, which seeks to highlight venerable and working communities who are integral to the mining process and the social license to operate. Finally, we end our discussion talking about indigenous communities and their proximity to many key mineral resources. Rob provides some insights on how we can ensure these communities receive the benefits they deserve and ensure an equitable outcome for the stewards of the land.
Geoscience Communication & Mineral Literacy
A Rock and A Hard Place
03/31/23 • 22 min
On this episode, I am joined by Courtney Onstad, a PhD candidate at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada, studying geoscience communication. Her research focuses on how science communication theory can inform geoscience communication practice, particularly in informal educational settings. Courtney first defines the concept of geoscience communication and how we can best implement it in a variety of academic, professional and public settings. We also discuss the importance of K-12 education and support when it comes to engaging in dialog about critical minerals and the energy transition. Without strong K-12 support, there will continue to be a gap in workforce development in the geoscience and mining field. Finally, Courtney discusses the difference between science communication and the gaps in literature between science communication and the world of geoscience. The clear take away? How scientists talk about their research and engage with both the public and policymakers is crucial when developing the future workforce and ensuring that critical mineral policy is well informed and promotes sustainable practices for the future.
Gendered Impacts in Mining & Challenges for Women in ASM/LSM with Dr. Lynda Lawson
A Rock and A Hard Place
03/24/23 • 16 min
Join us for another conversation with Dr. Lynda Lawson, Senior Fellow at Queensland University’s Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI). In this episode, Dr. Lawson highlights the roles of women in ASM and the gendered impacts in both the LSM/ASM sectors. The role women play in mining across many of Dr. Lawson’s field locations are incredibly important, not just from sorting, processing, and mining, but also through rehabilitation to improve former mining sites. Dr. Lawson also highlights some of the serious challenges and unexpected opportunities of empowerment mining provides women. The gendered impacts in mining are important to highlight, especially when trying to formalize the ASM sector and improve ESG challenges in global mining communities. As stated in the first episode, it cannot be stressed enough how important it is that we do not vilify these communities, rather we must take serious action and care when speaking about these issues and the negative impacts our broader policies may have on populations dependent on mineral resource extraction. These are not easy conversations, but they are essential in developing a sustainable mining future.
Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) and Formalization with Dr. Lynda Lawson
A Rock and A Hard Place
03/17/23 • 21 min
Join us for a timely discussion about the artisanal and small-scale mining sector with Dr. Lynda Lawson, Senior Fellow at Queensland University’s Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI). In this episode we provide a clear definition and description of artisanal mining, small-scale mining, and large-scale mining and the various environmental, social, and governance challenges behind them. Conversations in the news and public discourse have vilified the ASM sector, with photographs of children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo becoming talking points for politicians when discussing critical mineral supply. Dr. Lawson will point out the important role ASM plays in many communities across the globe and the negative effects that popular commentary have on efforts to improve and reform this sector. With millions of people employed by the sector, serious efforts have been made to formalize and find avenues to support local communities who are involved in local mining.
Mineral Security Education and Energy Communication with Anna Broughel
A Rock and A Hard Place
03/10/23 • 13 min
Join us for the second episode with Dr. Anna Broughel as we discuss the importance of not only educating future mining engineers but also international affairs students and political scientists about the mineral challenges facing society. We explore why it is essential that educational institutions in Washington D.C. teach about the mineral security nexus and the upstream challenges behind the energy transition. Anna also emphasizes the importance of energy communication, or the ability for energy economists and thought leaders to be able to traverse both the policy and technical aspects of their work. Finally, Anna concludes with some remarks and words of advice for future energy leaders and why CELI provides young professionals with a strong network to support their future career.
Dr Corby Anderson Part 2
A Rock and A Hard Place
01/28/22 • 9 min
In Part 2, our host, Thomas Hale continues his conversation with Dr Anderson. This week the discussion moves on to universities, the courses they are having to offer to entice a new type of student and what options they have when they move into the world of work in mining.
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FAQ
How many episodes does A Rock and A Hard Place have?
A Rock and A Hard Place currently has 33 episodes available.
What topics does A Rock and A Hard Place cover?
The podcast is about Esg, Clean Energy, Podcasts, Earth Sciences, Science and Sustainability.
What is the most popular episode on A Rock and A Hard Place?
The episode title 'Gendered Impacts in Mining & Challenges for Women in ASM/LSM with Dr. Lynda Lawson' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on A Rock and A Hard Place?
The average episode length on A Rock and A Hard Place is 16 minutes.
How often are episodes of A Rock and A Hard Place released?
Episodes of A Rock and A Hard Place are typically released every 7 days.
When was the first episode of A Rock and A Hard Place?
The first episode of A Rock and A Hard Place was released on Jan 14, 2022.
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