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Earth under the magnifying glass – raw materials under our feet

Institute of Geological Sciences invites you to the next online lecture in the popular science series “Mysteries of the Earth and the Universe” (Tajemnice Ziemi i Wszechświata). This edition is part of the Critical Raw Materials Days (CRM Days), an initiative of the Arqus European University Alliance.

The lecture is scheduled for 20 March 2026 at 8:50 AM and will be hosted by dr Elżbieta Słodczyk. You can join the session by clicking the provided link or by scanning the QR code on the event poster.

Simultaneous events – including lectures, workshops, panels, and exhibitions – are taking place at alliance partner universities in Granada, Minho, Padua, and Vilnius. The full programme of activities is available on the Arqus Alliance website.

During the session, participants will discover:

• which raw materials are essential for smartphone production,
• why some materials are classified as “critical”,
• their significance for modern technology and daily life,
• what components make up the devices we use every day.

The lecture offers a unique opportunity to explore the fascinating world of elements and minerals that are fundamental to modern technology.

Group leaders are requested to complete a participation survey after the lecture, specifying the number of attendees. This data will allow the University to showcase the scale of cooperation between Polish schools and the academic community on a European stage – a level of engagement that is exceptional compared to other countries.

At the conclusion of the lecture, a QR code for a knowledge-check quiz will be provided. We encourage participants to record their scores and, perhaps, negotiate additional credit with their teachers for active participation in the event.

Translated by Hanna Jordanek (student of English Studies at the University of Wrocław) as part of the translation practice.