(Recording of the Event Above!)
Join the Energy Transition Lab for a thought-provoking presentation by IonE Visiting Scholar and Macalester College Professor Roopali Phadke on critical minerals and the politics of clean energy production.

Abstract
One of the grand challenges of the Anthropocene is to balance our global dream to electrify everything with the brutal fact that clean energy technologies depend on metals mined using nearly medieval techniques around the globe. This presentation examines the politics of securing critical minerals for climate solutions, in the context of a growing trade war with China. Dozens of new precious and rare earth mines are being prospected throughout the US to met the metal needs for electric vehicles, solar and wind technologies. These mines have also met growing opposition from Minnesota to Texas as communities express their concern for the devastating local contamination that might result. Roopali will discuss how we might solve this green energy paradox and the kinds of alternatives that are being promoted outside of the US.

Bio for Dr. Phadke
Roopali Phadke is a Professor of Environmental Studies at Macalester College and a Visiting Scholar at IonE this Fall. Her teaching and research focus on energy and climate policy, citizen science, community based research and sustainable development initiatives. She is currently the principal investigator on a multiyear US National Science Foundation study titled “Mining Futures”. With her Macalester colleague Christie Manning, she also directed a NOAA funded project on diversity and deliberation in urban climate adaptation called Ready & Resilient, which received a 2016 award from the Climate Adaptation Partnership and a 2018 Minnesota Campus Compact Presidents’ Award. Roopali also serves on several local nonprofit boards including with Northern Lights/Northern Spark, Climate Generation and the Water Bar.