Fires in a Vacuum: A Geologist’s Guide to Outreach

Note: This article is written with irony and absurdity.

Nothing quite says 'British' like commemorating the foiling of a regicide by cheerfully torching an effigy of the would-be perpetrator. For the uninitiated, Guy Fawkes was the face, if not quite the brains, behind the Gunpowder Plot aiming to send King James I and Parliament sky-high.

The audacity of the plot inspired one particularly fervent Puritan in Parliament to push for a law mandating the annual celebration of November 5th. He presumably thought, ‘Surely, nothing short of a divine high-five could have thwarted such a fiendish plan.’

Thus, over 400 years on, Brits still relish that cozy glow that inevitably comes from watching a dummy of a man meet his fiery end. It’s tradition, after all, and who doesn’t enjoy a good bonfire, especially when it’s steeped in history and just a hint of treason?

Disclaimer: I’m British.

One unintended consequence of the Gunpowder Plot is that during the first week of November each year, my LinkedIn feed is sprinkled with friendly reminders of the mined elements that paint the night sky. Strontium casts a fiery red, barium brings a burst of green, and lithium lights up in pink. It’s heartening to know that my efforts as a geologist sprinkle color and cheer into people’s lives.

If it weren’t for good old Guy Fawkes, I might miss out on those virtual backslaps from my fellow geologists. LinkedIn, after all, is the watering hole for pros like us. We know what’s important. Just a glance in the mirror reflects the solution to many of the world’s quandaries. I’m grateful my fellow geologists remind each other just how pivotal we are.

And think about it. Those smartphones that kids are hopelessly addicted to? You can thank us for those! And electric vehicles—yes, a Nissan Leaf might take its sweet time offsetting its carbon footprint. And yes, lithium extraction is thirsty work. But let’s not forget the silence and clean air EVs bring to rich countries.

At the end of the day, the more we echo ‘If it’s not grown, it’s mined,’ the stronger our community grows. And seriously, the turnover in the mining sector is sky-high! We need to keep telling each other how indispensable we are, maybe even more loudly.

I’m grateful my fellow geologists remind each other just how pivotal we are.

Why not take it up a notch? Let’s roll out some podcasts and channels on FaceTube—or whatever it’s called. We can feature interviews with industry giants and craft slick videos that spread like wildfire across LinkedIn, emphasizing just how critical, critical minerals are. I can't believe we haven't done this already.

You know what? I think the Puritan in Parliament who passed the November 5th Thanksgiving Act had a point. Like him, we geologists have a penchant for marking our successes. We celebrate achievements in their own right, lighting up the sky or the internet with reminders of how indispensable our work is to the fabric of society. Just as the Puritan ensured November 5th would long be remembered, we strive to keep the importance of geology alive in our own consciousness.

After all, every post, every podcast, and every video is our way of lighting a bonfire of awareness and appreciation for our field. Let's elevate our outreach beyond the stratosphere—no, let's aim for the moon! From there, we can set off our fireworks and bonfires, and surely, the whole world will marvel at our brilliance, witnessing our flames from afar.

Follow-up

I’ve received several inquiries about whether I'm familiar with Instagram. I was told its demographic reaches beyond our usual 'echo chamber'. So, in the spirit of thorough research, I dove into this platform, which I initially mistook for Instatok — it turns out that’s not a thing.

Here’s my takeaway: despite encountering geology profiles with upwards of 10,000 followers, engagement levels are puzzlingly low. Posts with 'If it's not grown, it's mined' or 'Minerals in a smartphone' muster barely a handful of likes.

It's almost like the public doesn't like hearing about how wonderful we are. I really don't get it. I'm all ears if anyone can explain this.

So for now, I suggest we avoid Instatok and not waste our time there. It's best to spend our hours talking to those who matter. Can you guess who that is?