“Lithium Rising: The Race for Critical Minerals”
A Zoom Conversation Featuring Documentary Filmmaker Samuel George '07
From the moment the smartphone alarm wakes us up in the morning, we begin our day relying on the lithium battery. The toothbrush, the e-bike, the laptop, tablet, camera, hearing aid and smartwatch. The weedwhacker. The pacemaker. From the mundane to the lifesaving, lithium-ion powered devices get us through the day.
The demand for lithium batteries has skyrocketed in just a few years. This trend is forecast to accelerate with the global transition to electric vehicles. Access to minerals such as lithium, cobalt and nickel has emerged as a vital geopolitical, economic and social concern. So where do these minerals come from? Who controls the supply chain? How “clean” is this form of energy? What is happening to the people and the environment where lithium is extracted?
Filmmaker Samuel George ’07 directed this award-winning documentary and wrote a report that investigates how the rising demand for lithium impacts people and communities. His research took him to the frontlines of energy in the 21st century, from the lithium flats of South America, cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, nickel smelters in Indonesia, battery gigafactories in northern France, and recycling plants in rural Georgia. Join Sam to discuss the tradeoffs and challenges associated with the increased use of lithium batteries from environmental, economic, geopolitical, and human rights perspectives. To help you prepare for the conversation, you can review his report “Lithium Rising.”
John Petersen ’88, the Paul Sears Professor of Environmental Studies and Biology, will also participate as a discussant.
ABOUT THE FILMMAKER:
Samuel George ’07 is the Director of BFNA Documentaries at the Bertelsmann Foundation, a non-profit, non-partisan organization based in Washington, D.C. He is an award-winning filmmaker whose documentaries bring viewers up close and personal to people and communities facing the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century, offering candid perspectives that allow viewers to draw their own conclusions. His films focus on the intersection of politics, economics, social issues, and daily life. Sam’s documentaries have been screened at film festivals across the globe, collaborative events, and have been broadcast across the country. Sam earned his PhD from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. At Oberlin, Samuel majored in History. He is an officer of the Oberlin Club of Washington, D.C.
