Our Resources : Mining, Earth, Science, and Society

Lynnette Hutson, a PhD candidate at the University of Arizona, brings her impressive mining industry background to the table. She shares insights on the vital connection between corporate culture and leadership, advocating for flexible career paths. The discussion also covers the importance of nurturing talent, ethical considerations, and the impact of big data on mining efficiency. Lynnette highlights the need for inclusive leadership and authentic communication between companies and communities to promote sustainable practices and bridge knowledge gaps in the sector.

In this discussion, Dr. Corinne Unger, an Australian expert in mining land rehabilitation, dives into the complexities of post-mining land use. She reveals the pressing need for collaboration among communities, governments, and companies to tackle the challenges of mine reclamation. The conversation covers the importance of indigenous insights in planning closures and the shift towards proactive rehabilitation strategies. Dr. Unger also highlights successful initiatives in Western Australia aimed at restoring biodiversity in mining-affected ecosystems.

Welcome to the first Our Resources monologue! It is meant to introduce me, the host, the podcast, and give a future outlook. Through the episode I hope to convince you that this podcast is worth your time and that by listening you will be better prepared to improve our world. If there are any disagreements, comments, or questions about what I mention during the episode, reach out at caeburand@gmail.com .

Adam Hawkins, a social governance expert from Global External Relations, shares his extensive background in global mining policies and community relations. He dives into the complex history and regulations surrounding the Cactus Mine in Arizona and discusses the essential collaboration between mining companies and communities. Hawkins emphasizes the need for reform in abandoned mine land policies and advocates for sustainable practices within the mining sector to balance community needs with economic potential, highlighting the importance of innovative regulatory approaches.

Stephen Williams is a metallurgical engineer and investor relations expert at Bluestone Resources, focusing on the future of mining. He delves into the importance of interdisciplinary education for industry success. Sustainability is key, as he suggests that companies must improve their public perception. Williams contrasts the mining finance landscapes of Canada and the U.S., highlighting unique regulatory challenges. He also discusses the differing risk profiles between junior and major mining firms, emphasizing management's crucial role in success.

Dr. Jon Mellon is a social scientist from West Point Military Academy fascinated by how our society interacts and the tools/methods we use to understand our society. His interests are on pertinent topics like democratic elections and public opinion. He has also helped improve our collective ability to understand big data in the social sciences. The conversation focuses on what tools and mindsets we can use to understand big data sets and also the results of research which impacts our societies. Jon is an excellent communicator of science and articulates the crux of his recent investigation into instrumental variables titled, "Rain, Rain, Go Away: 192 Potential Exclusion-Restriction Violations for Studies Using Weather as an Instrumental Variable" which argues that many studies may be overvaluing the instrumental variable of weather to identify predictive correlations related to conflict, wealth, and much more. This episode is both revealing and informative. I hope that you enjoy and thank you for listening.

Dr. Kathryn Moore from the University of Exeter, a pioneer in 'switch-on and switch-off mining,' discusses revolutionary approaches to mineral extraction. She highlights the inefficiencies of large-scale mining and advocates for localized, sustainable practices. With insights from her studies in Eastern Europe, Dr. Moore explores the economic viability of smaller operations during market fluctuations and the need for responsible community engagement. She emphasizes balancing technological innovations with ethical mining practices for a greener future.

Tobi Dayo-Olupona is a guest whom words cannot describe. He is a polymath, entrepreneur, leader, and brilliant engineer, among other pursuits. Tobi is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Witwatersrand along with being the Director of Afrmine but has a unexpected path into mineral resources.Even though most of our conversation is about mining, the lessons and meaning of what we discuss is not unique to mining and is applicable for any young professional seeking to make a positive impact on our world. For example, Tobi describes how, in high school, he was leading 5+ organizations and learned that he needed to delegate, a lesson that extends far beyond mining.Thank you for taking the time to listen to my conversation with Tobi Dayo-Olupona, I hope our conversation is inspiring and useful.Afrimine Youtube ChannelTobi's Master's Thesis, "Technology adoption in mining: A multi-criteria method to select emerging technology in surface mines"

Jean Delebarre, a Swiss financial analyst for Glencore, shares his expertise in the aluminum sector and the intricacies of mining finance. He discusses optimizing revenue allocation and the importance of teamwork in multinational operations. A fascinating conversation emerges around ESG, with Jean advocating that mining is uniquely positioned to tackle environmental and social challenges. He also reflects on mining's evolving reputation, stressing the potential for economic growth through responsible practices and community engagement.

You may have heard the phrase “geography is destiny” which alludes to how our natural resources are the source of civilization’s wealth and it's catalyst. Well, our guest today, Sarah Patterson a mine geologist, would instead suggest that “geology is destiny”In a previous encounter with Sarah, she said “if civilization is a ship, the rudder is geology and the sails are epidemiology.” At first glance, I thought this notion was preposterous but after hearing the logic, I wanted to share this with our audience. Sarah is biased in her view as a geologist, but she makes the case that Earth’s dynamism, tectonics, geomorphology, and other natural phenomena, set the stage for where humans were able to flourish. For example, the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans were a nearly insurmountable barrier caused by our dynamic planet and kept people from reaching the Americas for tens of thousands of years!More importantly, is the fact that geology stopped us from interacting with other diverse populations. Sarah argues that epidemiology, the study of diseases and how they spread, can provide the answers to understanding how people interacted with one another when crossing these geological barriers and intermingling. One of the most surprising facts I learned during the discussion is that Sarah was thinking about this before COVID and now her years of contemplation are seeing a high in popularity. I do want to highlight her thoughtfulness. Sarah is one of the few people that I have met who is unafraid of sitting in silence to think about how she would like to respond to a question. It is something I admire and respect as someone who strives to speak eloquently and carefully to optimize my communications.After we finished recording the episode, Sarah mentioned her interest in TB, tuberculosis, and the conversation was so interesting that we thought it should be recorded. So if you make it to the end you get a "bonus snippet" of fascinating facts about TB.I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did!Caelen Burand - Our Resources host