Newsletter

Cobalt Mining in Congo with BLSU

By Eva Jo McIlraith

October 29, 2025

On October 22, members of the campus community gathered in the DMC for the debut event in the Geological Society’s new Environmental and Geological Violence and Oppression Awareness Series (EVAS). Hosted in collaboration with the Black and Latine Student Union (BLSU) and the Feminists of Color Collective (FCC), the program sought to illuminate the global connections between natural resource extraction, environmental harm, and inequitable power structures. The initiative has been developed to encourage students to engage critically with pressing sustainability and justice concerns throughout the world.

This first session centered on cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Although cobalt extraction takes place thousands of miles from campus, the discussion highlighted its direct link to modern life and technology. Attendees examined how cobalt supports the production of everyday electronic devices while simultaneously contributing to severe ecological degradation, unsafe labor conditions, and systemic exploitation of Congolese communities.

Participants engaged in a thoughtful and educational conversation that emphasized both awareness and responsibility. The organizers encouraged students to reflect on how consumer choices and global supply chains implicate societies far removed from their own, while also considering avenues for advocacy and informed action.

With an inviting atmosphere and Lotus Garden, the evening provided a welcoming space for learning and dialogue. EVAS will continue to host events that explore similar intersections of geology, environment, and social justice, offering the campus community opportunities to deepen understanding and take meaningful steps toward equity and sustainability.