A Circular Economy of Metals: Towards a Sustainable Societal Metabolism from Coursera

Metals are present everywhere around us and are one of the major materials upon which our economies are built. Economic development is deeply coupled with the use of metals. During the 20th century, the variety of metal applications in society grew rapidly. In addition to mass applications such as steel in buildings and aluminium in planes, more and more different metals are in use for innovative technologies such as the use of the speciality metal indium in LCD screens.

A lot of metals will be needed in the future. It will not be easy to provide them. In particular in emerging economies, but also in industrialised countries, the demand for metals is increasing rapidly. Mining and production activities expand, and with that also the environmental consequences of metal production.

In this course, we will explore those consequences and we will also explore options to move towards a more sustainable system of metals production and use. We will focus especially on the options to reach a circular economy for metals: keeping metals in use for a very long time, to avoid having to mine new ones.

This course is based on the reports of the Global Metals Flows Group of the International Resource Panel that is part of UN Environment. An important aspect that will come back each week, are the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the SDGs. Those are ambitious goals to measure our progress towards a more sustainable world. We will use the SDGs as a touching stone for the assessment of the metals challenge, as well as the solutions we present in this course to solve that challenge.

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction

Welcome to the course! This first module aims at introducing you to the main topic of the MOOC and to the teaching staff that you will be seeing throughout the whole course. Before you start with the first lessons we encourage you to have a look at our introductory materials and to introduce yourself in the forum in order to meet your classmates.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Develops an understanding of the environmental and societal impacts of metal production and use to reconcile sustainable development goals

Provides a comprehensive overview of the metals industry, from mining and production to recycling and reuse

Taught by Dr. Ester van der Voet, a leading expert in the field of sustainable metal production

Examines the challenges and opportunities associated with moving towards a circular economy for metals

Explores the role of metals in sustainable development, with a focus on the UN Sustainable Development Goals

Requires no prior knowledge of the metals industry or sustainable development

Reviews summary

Circular economy of metals and sustainability

According to learners, this course offers an excellent and very informative overview of the circular economy principles applied to metals. Students particularly appreciate how the course links technical aspects of metals with broader societal and environmental goals, specifically the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Reviewers found the course structure logical and the instructors knowledgeable, with high-quality video lectures and materials. While largely positive, one reviewer noted that parts, particularly on system dynamics (Week 3), can be quite theoretical or academic and wished for more practical examples of industry implementation. Overall, it provides a solid foundation and conceptual framework for understanding this critical topic.

Lectures and materials are engaging/high quality.

"The lectures were engaging and the connection to SDGs was very clear."

"The quality of the video lectures and supplementary materials was high."

"The expert lectures in Week 4 were a highlight."

Provides a strong understanding of concepts.

"Provides a solid foundation."

"It provides a strong conceptual framework."

"Really helped solidify my understanding of the... core principles."

Covers highly relevant current challenges.

"The topics are highly relevant to current environmental and economic challenges."

"This course exceeded my expectations. It links technical aspects of metals with broader societal and environmental goals..."

"Solid introduction to the topic. Covers the environmental impact and the potential of circularity well."

Could benefit from more practical examples.

"Could perhaps benefit from a bit more case studies."

"I was hoping for more practical examples of circular economy implementation in industry. ...less on practical application."

"It gives a good overview, but less on practical application."

Certain parts are academic/theoretical.

"Week 3 on dynamics was a bit theoretical, but necessary to understand the overall system."

"The course content is interesting, but it feels very academic and theoretical at times, especially in the middle weeks."

"Some of the flows modeling in week 3 was a bit dense, but overall manageable."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in A Circular Economy of Metals: Towards a Sustainable Societal Metabolism with these activities:

Review background material on metals

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Get a head start on course concepts by reviewing prior knowledge on metals and related topics.

Browse courses on Metals

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Read or skim introductory materials on metals
Review previous coursework or notes on relevant topics

Explore online tutorials on metal production

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Expand your understanding of metal production processes and techniques through online tutorials.

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Search for beginner-friendly tutorials on metal production
Watch and take notes on the tutorials

Engage in peer-led discussion groups on metal-related topics

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Collaborate with peers to exchange ideas and perspectives on metals-related topics.

Browse courses on Metals

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Connect with fellow students and form a discussion group
Choose topics for discussion and research them
Engage in active discussions, sharing insights and perspectives

Six other activities

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Solve problems related to metal properties

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Reinforce your understanding of metal properties by solving practice problems.

Browse courses on Materials Science

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Identify online resources or textbooks with practice problems
Solve problems and check your answers

Tutor or assist other students with understanding metals concepts

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Enhance your understanding by helping others learn and reinforce metal-related concepts.

Browse courses on Metals

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Identify opportunities to assist other students, such as joining a tutoring program or study group
Prepare materials and strategies for tutoring sessions
Provide guidance and support to students

Create a presentation on a specific metal or metal application

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Deepen your understanding and communication skills by presenting on a specific metal or its applications.

Browse courses on Metals

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Choose a specific metal or application to focus on
Research and gather information on the topic
Develop a presentation outline
Create visual aids and slides
Practice and deliver your presentation

Participate in a metal design or innovation challenge

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Test your skills and knowledge by participating in a challenge that requires you to design or innovate with metals.

Browse courses on Metallurgy

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Research and identify relevant challenges or competitions
Form a team or work individually on a design or innovation
Submit your proposal or solution

Contribute to open-source projects related to metals

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Apply your knowledge and contribute to the broader community by engaging in open-source metal-related projects.

Browse courses on Metals

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Identify open-source projects that align with your interests
Research and understand the project's goals and codebase
Contribute to the project by fixing bugs, adding features, or improving documentation

Review and consolidate your notes and materials from the course

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Solidify your understanding by reviewing and consolidating your notes and course materials.

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Organize and review your notes from each module
Summarize key concepts and ideas

Career center

Learners who complete A Circular Economy of Metals: Towards a Sustainable Societal Metabolism will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Metallurgist

Metallurgists extract metals from ores and refine them into a usable form. They also develop new alloys and improve the properties of existing ones. The course focuses specifically on the circular economy for metals, which is essential for sustainable metal production and use

See salaries and explore the career path for Metallurgist

Materials Scientist

Materials Scientists develop new materials and improve existing ones for specific applications. They consider the properties of materials, such as strength, durability, and conductivity, and how these properties can be improved or modified for different uses. The course will provide a foundation in the science of materials, which is essential for developing new materials and technologies that can help meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

See salaries and explore the career path for Materials Scientist

Mining Engineer

Mining Engineers design, build, and operate mines. They may also work in research and development, developing new mining technologies. The course will provide a foundation in mining engineering, which is essential for understanding the processes involved in metal production

See salaries and explore the career path for Mining Engineer

Environmental Engineer

Environmental Engineers develop solutions to environmental problems and monitor environmental regulations. They develop systems to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gasses and other pollutants. The course will provide the knowledge required to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in the field of environmental sustainability by teaching about the environmental impacts of metal production and how those impacts can be minimized through sustainable materials management

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Engineer

Environmental Scientist

Environmental Scientists conduct research on environmental issues and develop solutions to environmental problems. They may work in government, industry, or academia. The course will provide a foundation in environmental science, which is essential for understanding the environmental impacts of metal production and use

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Scientist

Sustainability Manager

Sustainability Managers develop and implement sustainability strategies for organizations. They may work in government, industry, or academia. The course will provide a foundation in sustainability, which is essential for understanding the challenges and opportunities of sustainable metal production and use

See salaries and explore the career path for Sustainability Manager

Chemical Engineer

Chemical Engineers design, build, and operate chemical plants and processes. They may also work in research and development, developing new products and processes. The course will provide a foundation in chemical engineering principles, which is essential for understanding the processes involved in metal production and use

See salaries and explore the career path for Chemical Engineer

Corporate Social Responsibility Manager

Corporate Social Responsibility Managers develop and implement corporate social responsibility strategies for organizations. They may work in government, industry, or academia. The course will provide a foundation in corporate social responsibility, which is essential for understanding the role of businesses in promoting sustainable metal production and use

See salaries and explore the career path for Corporate Social Responsibility Manager

Geologist

Geologists study the Earth's physical structure and composition. They may work in exploration, mining, or environmental protection. The course will provide a foundation in geology, which is essential for understanding the sources of metals and the environmental impacts of mining

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Policy Analyst

Policy Analysts research and analyze public policy issues. They may work in government, industry, or academia. The course will provide a foundation in policy analysis, which is essential for understanding the role of government in promoting sustainable metal production and use

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Environmental Lawyer

Environmental Lawyers specialize in environmental law. They may work in government, industry, or academia. The course will provide a foundation in environmental law, which is essential for understanding the legal framework for sustainable metal production and use

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Environmental Economist

Environmental Economists apply economic principles to environmental issues. They may work in government, industry, or academia. The course will provide a foundation in environmental economics, which is essential for understanding the economic costs and benefits of sustainable metal production and use

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Nonprofit Manager

Nonprofit Managers oversee the operations of nonprofit organizations. They may work in a variety of fields, including environmental protection, social justice, and international development. The course will provide a foundation in nonprofit management, which is essential for understanding the role of nonprofits in promoting sustainable metal production and use

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Science Writer

Science Writers communicate scientific information to the public. They may work for newspapers, magazines, or websites. The course will provide a foundation in science writing, which is essential for communicating the importance of sustainable metal production and use to the public

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Teacher

Teachers educate students at all levels, from kindergarten through college. They may teach a variety of subjects, including science, math, and social studies. The course will provide a foundation in education, which is essential for teaching students about the importance of sustainable metal production and use

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