Critical Minerals and Geopolitics

Critical minerals are increasingly central to global supply chains, particularly those underpinning the clean energy transition, advanced manufacturing, and national security. But what exactly are critical minerals, and why do they matter so much? And what role does commercial diplomacy play in securing access, as countries navigate trade restrictions, strategic partnerships, and geopolitical relationships? Our panel of experts will explore these critical questions.

Meet the Speakers
Chris Vandome leads the Critical Minerals Initiative at Chatham House. He is a senior research fellow with both the Global Economy and Finance Programme and the Africa Programme. In addition to his research expertise in geopolitics, security, and natural resource governance, Christopher is a member of the standards committee of the Responsible Jewelry Council.

Belinda Schäpe works at the nexus of climate change and geopolitics and is a China Policy Analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) where she analyses China’s decarbonisation journey and advises policymakers on their diplomatic engagement with China.

Metehan Ciftci is a social scientist keen to explore the social, political, and economic implications of natural resource exploitation. His key research themes include environmental justice, the resource curse and associated conflicts, as well as critical minerals and material circularity (circular economy). He holds a PhD from the University College London Institute for Sustainable Resources, where he is researching the social impact of the rising demand for transition minerals in source countries, with a particular focus on lithium-related conflicts in Chile and Argentina.

Chair: Aparna Ravi is Lecturer in International Political Economy at the UCL Department of Political Science

Recording
This event will be recorded and the video will be uploaded to our YouTube channel. You can subscribe to our YouTube channel to be alerted when the recording is uploaded.

Seating

Seats are allocated on a first come, first served basis. We cannot guarantee you a seat, but it is very unusual that we have to turn someone away.

Accessibility

• The corridor outside the lecture theatre(s) is sufficiently wide enough (150cm+) to allow wheelchair users to pass.
• There is step free access into the lecture theatre(s).
• The door opening width(s) is/are 75cm+ for the lecture theatre(s).
• There are designated spaces for wheelchair users within the lecture theatre(s), located at the back.
• There is level access to the designated seating from an entrance.
• There is space for an assistance dog.
• There is a hearing assistance system for the lecture theatre(s).
• There is not a visual fire alarm beacon in the lecture theatre(s).
   

For more accessiblity info and an access guide please visit Accessable

If you have accessibility needs, please let us know and we will do our best to help.

UCL200

2026 is the year in which we celebrate UCL’s Bicentenary, marking 200 years since UCL’s establishment as the first University in London. 

UCL Political Science and School of Public Policy are celebrating with a programme of seminars that relate to one of UCL’s core research themes: Fairer Futures