Underground Resources for a Sustainable Global Future
by Professor Priscilla P. Nelson, PhD.

Our world has changed in many ways over the past decade, in particular. The drivers for change includes our evolving comprehension of the finiteness of the carrying capacity of the earth. The growing population has led to urban densification and expansion, and to
challenges in human and industrial waste management, disease control, ecology and habitat issues, and behavioral changes and social tensions related to food and water availability, social justice and equity. The fragility of the global supply chain and the realization
of the impacts of climate change are driving the energy transition and the need for alternative sources of energy which will require utilization of critical metals and minerals.
What is the role of the underground as an earth resource in addressing these world changes ? This lecture will address the responsibilities and opportunities for the construction and mining industries to be leaders in the path towards a sustainable global future.
We must be increasingly creative to deliver underground resources that
support sustainability of earth’s environmental systems and that provide positive outcomes for communities. The lecture will provide discussion on:
1. The global context for infrastructure
2. Limitations and opportunities for underground solutions
3. Approach to urban solutions, sustainability and resilience
4. Addressing underground risks