There is much excitement about the re-exploration of former mines which are hoped to hold significant levels of this ‘white gold’- the protagonist of post Brexit Britain’s electromobility aspirations and energy transition.
Dominating the re-exploration conversation are physical scientists and economic investors. Whilst they allude to the mining history of Cornwall and lithium as a potential elixir for the region, a critical examination of the entanglement of the pasts, presents, and futures of Cornish mining is absent.
Jamie Hinch's DPhil project proposes an exploration of the relationship between lithium and Cornwall through an ethnography, sitting at the intersection of literatures concerning place-making, marginality, and critical geopolitics.
About the speaker
Jamie Hinch is a DPhil student in the School of Geography and the Environment at the University of Oxford. A cultural geographer, he is interested in the social and environmental questions surrounding the extraction of lithium from former China clay pits in mid-Cornwall.
Based on his PhD research, this talk will introduce you to 'Flatty and Pointy'- the shapeshifting sky tips which are at once waste, heritage, and critical resource for the green transition.
Through this encounter with Flatty and Pointy, the talk will reflect on the complex relationships between post-industrial communities with post-extractive landscapes, whilst insisting on the importance of ethnographic research methods.
Booking information
- Advance booking for this event is required. In order to book you will need an account on our website. If you already have an account you will be prompted to log in when you click 'book now'. Please create an account if you do not have one yet (you do not need to be a member of the Society to create an account).
- Tickets are £5, and free for members. Students can book free tickets by entering the code Student at checkout.
- We do not issue tickets (electronic or physical) for this event. Instead your name will be on a list at the door.
If you have any questions or require assistance with your booking, please email events@rgs.org
This event has been organised by the South East regional committee.
Venue information
This event will be held at Cheney School, Cheney Lane, Headington, Oxford. OX3 7QH.
Entry via Gypsy Lane entrance. Cheney School is situated next to Oxford Brookes University, has ample parking, and easily reached by buses 5 and 8 from Oxford city centre.
Accessibility at our events
We want everyone to feel welcome at our events. If you have any questions or specific access requirements, feel free to get in touch with us on access@rgs.org
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