b'CommentaryCanberra observedvalue chains for lithium, rare earths andIn June 2023 the government releasedof our population to participate in supporting value adding to tungstenits Critical Minerals Strategy to reviewtertiary education in the future, then ores and refractory metals. Australias critical minerals list which wasthere will have to be a huge increase in designed to support the sectors growthgovernment funding (how many nuclear Geoscience Australia has been awardedand ensure Australia gets a share of thesubmarines?). The two big questions are: $2.7m for research into developmentglobal minerals supply chain. do we really need 80% of our population opportunities of a domestic industrychallenged by tertiary education? And for critical minerals such as gallium,For more information go to how are we going to fund the sector in germanium and indium, which are oftenhttps://www.minister.industry.gov.au/the future?byproducts from processing primaryministers/king/media-releases/boost-commodities such as bauxite and zinc. critical-minerals-and-rare-earths- These questions are too big to consider Critical minerals and rare-earth metalsresearch. in this column, but I recommend that are commonly used in high-techthe ASEGs Education Committee have applications in quantum computing,New accord for Australiana good look at the options and do a bit batteries used for renewable energyoflobbying.universitiestechnologies, precision medicalI will just say that I dont think a tax equipment, and for advanced weaponsA new plan for the future of Australianon overseas students is a good idea. seekers and guidance equipment. SomeUniversities was released on 28DecemberIf we want to attract good students of the more common critical minerals2023. (https://www.education.gov.au/ from overseas they should pay for their found in Australia include aluminium,australian-universities-accord). The 382- education, but to levy a tax is unfair on copper, cobalt, lithium, indium,page report and the 32-page summarythe most successful universities, the ones magnesium and manganese. contains lots of good words and policies. who are able to attract these students.The funding follows the October 2022Basically, it states that our universitiesJust like exploring for resources, its all announcement of the establishmentare underfunded in both the researchabout money!!of the Critical Minerals Research andand teaching components, and have Development Hub. been for many years. If we want 80% Swimming lesson drop-o time = geology classroom?On Wednesday 19 March I attended a careers expo at one ofand its probably because of those \x1eve-minute conversations. my local high schools on behalf of the Australian Society ofSo, if you cant get to an outreach event, spark a short Exploration Geophysicists (ASEG) WA Branch. conversation with the young people in your life!I was nervous before the expo, not because Im shy, butThanks to Southern Geoscience Consultants & Newmont because I placed a huge weight on my own shoulders toAustralia for lending ASEG geophysics/petrophysics leave a lasting positive impression on at least one student toequipment for demo and to the ASEG WA Branch committee consider a career pathway into geophysics, and I was worriedfor organising the booth materials. no one would come up to me, but they did!If you wish to take part in future outreach events on behalf The hardest question I had to answer was how do I becomeof ASEG, please contact secretary@aseg.org.au. a geophysicist?.Mikayla Sambrooks I couldnt guarantee a Year 10 student that there would evenASEG Communication Committee Co-Chair be a clear pathway for them to become a geophysicist in twoE communications@aseg.org.au or three years when they are ready to head to uni - which is kind of sad and scary.All I can think to do to counterbalance the decline in students taking geophysics in a tertiary setting is to increase positive awareness and visibility to students before they get there. High school career expos, university open days and other outreach events provide the perfect opportunity for this, but there are other ways to spread awareness. Do you have kids, or do you know someone who has kids? A fellow geophysicist recently shared that for years she had been starting conversations on the \x1eve-minute drive to drop her kids and their friends o\x1f at swimming lessons. Prompting them with questions like do you know where the materials in your ipad come from?. Those kids know what geology is now APRIL 2024PREVIEW 27'