Heavy Metal Course

Winner of the Killam Connection Competition

A collaborative new course is being taught for the first time this Winter, Term 2 (January 2023).  “Heavy Metal” is a new collaborative course, jointly sponsored by the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, the Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences, Peter A. Allard School of Law, and the Norman B. Keevil Institute of Mining Engineering.

The interdisciplinary course examines the role of mining and mineral resources in the transition towards clean, renewable energy systems – and has received funding from the Killam Connection program, an initiative through UBC Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies The course was selected from among 21 proposals for an innovative and interdisciplinary graduate course in the 2021-22 competition.

The faculty members behind the course, Dr. Nadja Kunz (lead), Dr. Alison Macfarlane, Dr. Philippe Tortell, Dr. Carol Liao, and Dr. Scott Dunbar, were given $25,000 to help with all aspects of the course including invited speakers, public events, and public scholarship outputs by graduate students.

“Heavy Metal” examines the transition to green technologies and renewable energy systems through the lens of mineral resources and mining. Topics include the global supply/demand forecast for mineral resources, social and environmental impacts across the mining life cycle (from mineral exploration to mine closure), metals recycling and recovery, and legal and policy frameworks for mineral governance both internationally and in Canada, with a particular focus on Indigenous sovereignty issues. Students will also learn about options for responsible sourcing and community-led mining.

Through exposure to these topics and collaborative group projects, students will gain a deeper understanding of the factors shaping and constraining progress toward socially and environmentally responsible mineral resource use and production systems. Students will also be exposed to diverse viewpoints through guest lectures and collaborative teamwork.

Public scholarship is a key component, providing students with opportunities to learn how to communicate effectively through op-eds and policy briefs.

The course is cross-listed across four UBC faculties, and graduate students can register using the following course codes: 

If you have questions about the course, please contact the course instructor Assistant Professor Dr. Nadja Kunz at nadja.kunz@ubc.ca.