10/12/2026
SIU Carbondale will host five free, public brown-bag lunch talks Oct. 12–16 for Earth Science Week, exploring environmental challenges and the minerals that support everyday life.
This year’s theme is “Critical Minerals for a Thriving Society.” The event schedule includes:
• Monday, Oct. 12: Lahiru Jayakody discusses plastic pollution.
Time: Noon–1 p.m.
Location: Parkinson Building, Room 101F, SIU Carbondale.
• Tuesday, Oct. 13: Erik Brevik explores how minerals support agriculture and food production.
Time: Noon–1 p.m.
Location: Parkinson Building, Room 101F, SIU Carbondale.
• Wednesday, Oct. 14: Scott Hamilton-Brehm and Daniel Hummer discuss finding critical rare earth metals and how microbes could help harvest them.
Time: Noon–1 p.m.
Location: Parkinson Building, Room 101F, SIU Carbondale.
• Thursday, Oct. 15: James Conder examines earthquake causes and patterns.
Time: Noon–1 p.m.
Location: Parkinson Building, Room 101F, SIU Carbondale.
• Friday, Oct. 16: Liliana Lefticariu explores critical mineral extraction and restoring land affected by mining.
Time: Noon–1 p.m.
Location: Parkinson Building, Room 101F, SIU Carbondale.
All five events are open to the public. For questions, contact Larry Dunlap-Berg at [email protected]