Technology Metals for a Green Future (FutureLearn)

Smartphones, wind turbines, and electric cars are becoming standard features of modern life and are closely linked to a low-carbon, globally connected future. This has increased the demand for greater quantities and variety of metals to build these products, but access to many of them is restricted due to their geological or geopolitical situation.

On this course, you’ll learn how these metals are used, where they come from, and how they’re sourced. You’ll consider ways to cope with the growing demand and explore the ways in which we can achieve sustainable metals stewardship.

What topics will you cover?

1. Technology metals, what are they used for?

2. Importance: what makes a raw material critical?

3. Geological resources: where are they found?

4. Extraction: economic, social and environment considerations

5. Value chain: from extraction to manufacturing

6. Future: responsible sourcing – Materials stewardship – Circular economy

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you'll be able to...

- Explore where technology metals are used in the modern world, and the role that these materials have in a green future

- Identify and describe different geological settings and rock types where technology metals are found

- Demonstrate an understanding of the steps required before technology metals can be used in manufacturing, including exploration, extraction of ores and mineral processing

- Describe and discuss the ways in which technology metals can be obtained responsibly, with minimal social and environmental impact