In October, we welcomed Coventry University as the MMTA’s first Academic Affiliate member. The university is committed to Education for Sustainable Development, and since 2015 has retained the Responsible Futures Kitemark which recognises leadership among UK universities in sustainability, social responsibility and efforts to embed them throughout the curriculum. The university engages in advanced research on decarbonisation and the circular economy, including recycling of critical metals. The MMTA International Minor Metals Conference 2022 featured a presentation from Coventry University about its work on recovering metals via advancement in bioleaching techniques from WEEE. The MMTA looks forward to engaging with and supporting Coventry University’s work and learning from its invaluable research.
In November, the MMTA welcomed British Geological Survey (BGS), a world-leading independent research organisation providing expert geoscientific data, information and knowledge. The UK’s national geological survey, it runs national and international geoscience programmes and is engaged in research and innovation addressing a geoscientific challenges including decarbonisation and resource management. BGS is the founder of the UK Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre (CIMC), which the MMTA is proud to support. The CMIC aims to support the UK in securing adequate, timely and sustainable supplies of the minerals and metals it requires to transition to net-zero emissions, mitigate risks to national security, deliver economic prosperity and create opportunities for UK businesses in critical mineral supply chains domestically and internationally.