There are a number of minerals and metals which are essential to the U.S. economy and national security but are vulnerable to supply chain breakdowns. These are known as “critical materials,” and have the potential to cause disruption to our daily lives and the economy as a whole. What are these materials and how did the current situation come to pass? Dr. Brett Carlson, assistant professor of materials and metallurgical engineering at South Dakota Mines, will explore some of the ethical, strategic and technological issues of critical materials and muse over what the future may hold.