Why We Mine

• Pickaxes to Pixels: The Next Generation of Miners

  It’s no secret the mining sector has experienced some recruitment challenges over the years. Things like public perception and a lack of trust, which we’ve explored in previous episodes, certainly deserve some of the blame. But if we’re going to ensure we have the materials we need for the green energy transition, the industry needs an influx of fresh talent. In this season finale episode of Why We Mine, presented by Teck, host Robin Stickley sits down with three young up-and-comers from the University of British Columbia’s Geological Engineering program for a frank conversation about the pros and cons of a career in modern mining. They also discuss how the appeal has grown in recent years as the industry evolves, both technologically and philosophically. Finally, Robin is joined by Doctor Charlotte Gibson, the Associate Head of The Robert M. Buchan Department of Mining at Queen’s University, to find out what schools are doing to put young people on the path to a career in mining, and what they could be doing better.

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• Shared Goals, Shared Future: Mining and the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

  What is the role of Indigenous Peoples in the global race to secure the critical minerals we need for the green energy transition? And how can the mining industry and Indigenous communities work together to forge an equitable future?In this episode of Why We Mine, presented by Teck, host Robin Stickley speaks with two people with an intimate understanding of the nuanced relationship between Indigenous communities and the mining industry: Christy Smith — Senior Vice President of Indigenous Engagement and Human Environment at Falkirk Environmental Consultants, and John Desjarlais — Executive Director of the Indigenous Resource Network. Together, they tackle some important questions, like where trust has been broken in the past? They also discuss the “Seven Generations” mindset with respect to resource projects, and explore how that way of thinking can further these important relationships, now and for decades to come.Please note: This episode includes some sensitive topics, including trauma, suicide, and residential schools. If you or anyone you know is facing mental health issues, you can find resources HERE. You can also click these links to learn more about the work of the Indigenous Resource Network and Falkirk Environmental Consultants.

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• The Copper Cliff

  It’s one of the first metals human beings ever mined, and the first to be smelted, cast into molds, and alloyed with another metal. And today, copper has become just as important to humankind as it was to those early Sumerian, Egyptian, and Roman civilizations. But why is it so critical, and why do we need so much of it?In this episode of Why We Mine, presented by Teck, host Robin Stickley explores copper’s pivotal role in the green energy transition, and why we need to mine more of it in the next 30 years than we have in the past 5,000. With the help of Professor Shaun Barker, the Director of the Mineral Deposit Research Unit at the University of British Columbia, and Tyler Mitchelson, a Senior Vice President at Teck, Robin also learns why copper is so unique, what the mining industry is doing to meet the growing need, and why this is a challenge we can’t simply recycle our way out of.

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• Critical Minerals: What Are They and Why Should You Care?

  The term “critical minerals” has been getting tossed around a lot lately. Most people know that certain elements are essential to many modern conveniences and technologies we take for granted, like our smartphones and electric cars. But which metals are we talking about exactly, why are they so important to the green energy transition, how much of them do we need, and what’s the mining industry’s role in helping meet that demand?In this episode of Why We Mine, host Robin Stickley explores the growing global demand for elements like lithium, nickel, cobalt, copper, graphite, and zinc, with the help of Dr. Peter Tom Jones, Director of the KU Leuven Institute for Sustainable Metals and Minerals in Belgium. She also speaks with Mark Zacharias, the Executive Director of Clean Energy Canada, to find out why governments around the world, including Canada, are crafting specific strategies to ensure they have adequate access to these metals in the future.

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• Heigh-Ho! Heigh-Ho! Excavating Mining Themes in Media

  When it comes to how industries are portrayed in pop culture, mining companies probably wouldn't make the Top 5 list of the villains everyone loves to hate - but they might make the Top 10. From science fiction tentpoles like Dune, Avatar, and Star Wars, to TV shows like The Expanse and True Detective, and even fantasy franchises like The Lord of the Rings, characters and companies that mine are often depicted in a less-than-flattering way.In this second season premiere episode of Why We Mine, presented by Teck, host Robin Stickley delves into the sticky stereotype with the help of geologist, mining futurist, and podcast host Emily King. They discuss why the perception is so pervasive, and how the mining industry can change the narrative. Robin also speaks with the leader of a “real life” mining town, Mayor Robin Smith of the District of Logan Lake, British Columbia, to learn how her community has benefited from mining in the past, and how that partnership will continue to pay dividends for decades to come — despite what you might see on the silver screen.

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