211: Connecting the Energy Transition to Societal Engagement

"How do we move towards a greater societal understanding of what's required to achieve the goals of decarbonization? Building a sustainable society requires everybody, all the citizens, to do a whole bunch of different things, many of which are minor."

Murray W. Hitzman, the Director of iCRAG, highlights the energy transition and how to communicate it with the public.

iCRAG is the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre in Applied Geosciences hosted by University College Dublin. In this episode, we explore Ireland's energy and sustainability challenges. With Ireland's advantageous position for harnessing wind and solar power, as well as the untapped potential of geothermal energy, Murray provides a portrait of a country that's not only capable of making significant strides in sustainability but is also a microcosm for global change.

Murray shares his journey as an economic geologist and how it has shaped his vision for iCRAG's three grand challenges: Earth system change, Earth resources, and Earth science in society. Listeners will discover the connections between energy transition, critical raw materials, and societal engagement necessary to build a sustainable future.

Murray explains why clear communication between scientists and citizens is the key to sustainability. We also explore the critical roles of metals like zinc, copper, and cobalt in green technology.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that sustainability is a multifaceted issue that requires collaboration, innovation, and a willingness to embrace new challenges. As Murray puts it, discovery is at the heart of his journey – continuing to uncover how we can better interact with our planet.