Rare-earth elements are having a moment in the public spotlight, having come from obscurity to the forefront of the national (and international) consciousness.

These elements have long been used in industrial and household applications, for example, in magnets and catalytic converters, but increasingly, their unique properties have made them indispensable components of many modern devices and applications.

With demand sky-rocketing, scrutiny has been placed on the production of these elements, from mining, to refinement, distribution, and recycling, and the story is complex.

Enter environmental geologist Owen Missen and physicist Andy McCulloch, who will provide an overview of these rare-earth elements; Owen will describe where and how we find rare earth elements, the exotic-sounding minerals they inhabit like xenotime and monazite, and why their chemical behaviour makes them so important. Andy will provide an overview of what makes rare earth elements special for modern applications, and provide examples of their usage highlighting their criticality to life in the modern world.

The goal of this event is to help build a common understanding of rare-earth elements. The presentation will be casual, open for discussion, and will include light refreshments.