Critical Minerals for a Thriving Society:
From Research Frontiers to Public Understanding

As a GSA member, you likely know that critical minerals have become central to conversations about energy, technology, and economic security. As demand for these resources grows, so too does the need for robust geoscience to identify new resources, understand mineral systems, improve extraction, and minimize environmental impacts. These challenges extend well beyond resource discovery to encompass components like critical mineral recycling and resilient supply chains. Overall, critical minerals represent one of the most dynamic and socially relevant areas of professional activity in the geosciences; one that requires knowledge from many geoscience disciplines.

While research continues to advance rapidly, public understanding of critical minerals often struggles to keep pace. The rapid pace of developments related to critical minerals and their uses can lead to members of the public not understanding key dimensions of the geosciences, which may lead to lack of awareness or misconceptions regarding mining, mineral supply chains, recycling, and mineral reclamation. It is important that public understanding aligns with the rapid expansion of research and other professional activities related to critical minerals. These gaps in understanding create opportunities for geoscientists to serve as trusted communicators (Geological Society of America, 2021), helping audiences navigate complex issues with evidence that acknowledges both benefits and challenges.

Earth Science Week 2026
(11–17 October) will celebrate the theme “Critical Minerals for a Thriving Society,” and will provide opportunities to strengthen connections between current research and public understanding about critical minerals. This annual celebration provides a national platform that can be used by geoscience organizations, research teams, museums, government agencies, and professional societies to engage students, educators, policymakers, and the broader public in dialogues about critical minerals.

Geoscientists are encouraged to use Earth Science Week as a mechanism to host events that showcase the relevance of their work, especially (but not exclusively) related to critical minerals, through public lectures, open houses, hands-on workshops, lab tours, and guided field experiences. For example, geoscience faculty, as well as graduate and undergraduate students, can partner with local schools to introduce K–12 students to mineral resources and related career pathways, or can collaborate with museums and libraries to develop interactive exhibits and participate in community forums that explore the role of critical minerals in everyday life. Events can bring together experts in geology, engineering, sustainability, public policy, and additional fields to demonstrate the interdisciplinary nature of critical minerals exploration, sourcing, and utilization.

GSA has long championed excellence in research, education, and public engagement. Earth Science Week offers an opportunity for GSA members to extend the impact of their work. GSA Sections and Student Chapters can incorporate the 2026 Earth Science Week theme into conferences, meetings, and outreach events. Existing Earth Science Week resources can be used to make events interactive and engaging for a variety of audiences (https://www.earthsciweek.org/resources/2026/), including GSA’s 2026 Calendar Activity, “From Puddle to Mineral,” which has students model mineral formation by brines.

By connecting their work with meaningful public engagement, geoscientists can foster a more informed society—one that is better equipped to understand the critical minerals and other resources that support today’s technology-rich lifestyles and the science needed to ensure those resources are used responsibly.

1. Geological Society of America,
2021, The importance of
teaching earth science:
https://www.geosociety.org/science-policy/position-statements/teaching-earth-science (access September 2026)