HERawS is dedicated to enhancing knowledge and expertise in the critical raw materials sector. Our team develops educational resources and tools specifically designed to benefit researchers, students, SMEs and policymakers. Through innovative training programs, public awareness initiatives, and cutting-edge assessment tools, we aim to provide comprehensive support in understanding and addressing the challenges associated with raw materials criticality.
Educational Programs
Dive into HERawS comprehensive trainings tailored for students, researchers, enterprises, and policymakers. Our initiatives focus on enhancing understanding and skills related to the critical raw materials essential for driving green and digital transitions.
Summer School: Critical Raw Materials & Sustainable Mining
Dates: June 30 – July 5, 2025
Location: Belgrade University, Serbia
Format: on-site, practical training week
For whom: Master’s and PhD students
ARE YOU READY TO EXPLORE THE COMPLEX WORLD OF CRITICAL RAW MATERIALS AND MINING?
Join us in Belgrade, Serbia from June 30 to July 5, 2025 for a week-long immersive Summer School that combines expert-led lectures, hands-on learning, and exclusive field visits to deepen your understanding of raw materials in the green and digital transition.
The summer school provides a comprehensive exploration of critical raw materials, covering their definition, strategic significance, global distribution, sourcing challenges, and essential role in green and digital technologies. Combining theoretical knowledge with practical applications, the course delves into key sustainability topics, including the circular economy, biological reclamation, and responsible resource management strategies. Participants will also develop a holistic perspective on the economic, social, and environmental (ESG) impact of raw material exploitation, examining its effects on ecosystem services, biodiversity conservation, and climate change.
Summer School Highlights
Engaging lectures led by experts in critical raw materials and sustainable mining from the University of Lorraine (France), Jožef Stefan Institute (Slovenia) and the University of Belgrade (Serbia).
Collaborative practical work in interdisciplinary groups with dedicated supervisors
Field visits to two mining sites, offering insights into real-world mining practices
Who Can Apply?
Master’s and PhD students from STEM, political sciences, social sciences, and related fields.
Summer School aims to foster collaborative learning and interdisciplinary problem-solving, preparing participants to tackle the complex challenges of raw materials and mining from both technical and societal angles.
Participation & Costs
Open to 35 selected participants
Full tuition waiver for all participants
Accommodation fully covered for all selected participants
Travel grants awarded to the top 20 selected participants
Participants cover their daily living expenses (meals, local transport, etc.)
How to Apply:
A possible online interview may be arranged with the Summer School team to get to know you better
Wait for the selection results (will be announced by May 20, 2025)
APPLICATION DEADLINE: May 15, 2025
For inquiries, contact us: katarina.lazarevic@sfb.bg.ac.rs
Scientific Seminar: Raw Materials for Green and Digital Transition
Dates: April 8 – 9, 2025
Location: University of Lorraine (Mines Nancy), France
Format: on-site, interactive seminar and networking
For whom: Researchers, Scientists, PhD students
Registration is open until April 6, 2025
Scientific Seminar on Raw Materials for Green and Digital Transition
When and Where: 8-9 April 2025, University of Lorraine (Mines Nancy), Nancy (France)
Who Should Join: Researchers, Scientists, PhD students
Seminar Programme
Tuesday, 8 April (4 hours)
📍 Focus: Understanding the Role and Challenges of Raw Materials in the Green and Digital Transition
☕️ 09:00 – 09:45 | Morning Coffee
09:45 – 10:00 | Welcome and Introduction
- Overview of HERawS and its educational mission
- Objectives of the seminar
- Key themes and expected outcomes
10:00 – 11:00 | How to Leverage Sustainability in Your Scientific Publications
- Integrating sustainability aspects in research articles
- Best practices for journal submissions and impact metrics
- Ethical considerations and responsible science communication
11:00 – 12:00 | Keynote: Materials for Green and Digital Transition
- The role of materials science in sustainability
- Key materials driving technological innovation
- Challenges in securing sustainable supply chains
🍽️ 12:00 – 14:00 | Lunch Break & Networking
14:00 – 15:00 | The Mineral Resources for the Green and Digital Transition
- Essential mineral resources for batteries, semiconductors, and renewable energy
- Global supply chains and geopolitical challenges
- Interactive discussion: future demand scenarios
15:00 – 16:00 | Mining’s Impact on Environment and Society: A Pathway to Sustainable Development
- Environmental and social consequences of mining
- Case studies: best practices and community engagement
- Interactive Q&A
Wednesday, 9 April (4 hours)
📍 Focus: Innovative Approaches and Scientific Contributions to Sustainability
☕️ 09:30 – 10:00 | Morning Coffee
10:00 – 11:00 | Metals of the Future: Recovering Critical Resources within the Framework of the Circular Economy
- Circular economy principles applied to critical metals
- Technologies for material recovery and recycling
- Policy and industry perspectives on resource efficiency
11:00 – 12:00 | Towards Sustainable Materials by Design
- Designing materials with sustainability in mind
- Advanced materials for energy and digital applications
- Challenges in material substitution and performance
🍽️ 12:00 – 14:00 | Lunch Break & Networking
14:00 – 15:00 | Decision Support System for Sustainable Material Selection
- Frameworks for evaluating materials sustainability
- AI and data-driven approaches for decision-making
- Case studies on sustainable materials
15:00 – 16:00 Advancing Sustainability through Materials Science Teaching
- Learning by challenge to teach sustainable materials
- Outreach to different education levels, inspiring interest among younger generation
- Raising public awareness about the materials behind the twin transition
16:00 – 16:30 | Closing remarks and key takeaways
Registration is open until April 6, 2025
Raw Materials Training for Enterprises
Dates: May 2025
Location: To be confirmed soon
Format: 1 day on-site
For whom: Enterprises
Program summary
To be announced later.
Program Overview
To be announced later.
Who should register
– Entreprises
– SME’s
– Startups
Raw Materials Training for Policymakers
Dates: May 2025
Location: To be confirmed soon
Format: 1 day on-site
For whom: Policy experts, decision-makers
Program summary
To be announced later.
Program overview
To be announced later.
Who should register
– Policy experts
– Agencies
– Decision-makers
Expert Podcast
Understanding raw materials with ‘We Can Be HERawS’ video podcast
Our video podcast series brings experts and policymakers together to discuss the raw materials vital for our future. Learn about their impact on sustainability and technology through these insightful conversations. Join us to explore how these materials drive the green and digital transitions.
Episode 1
Peter Handley, Head of Energy-Intensive Industries and Raw Materials Unit, European Commission’s Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship & SMEs.
Episode 2
Peter Dunne, the innovative founder of “Remedy” green startup and researcher at IPCMS (Strasbourg Institute of Material Physics and Chemistry), France.
Episode 3
Bronwyn Fox, Chief Scientist at CSIRO:
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australia.
Episode 4
Tijana Vulevic
Associate Professor
Belgrade University, Faculty of Forestry, Serbia.
Episode 7
Eric Pirard, Professor and Academic Coordinator of the EMerald Master programme at the Université de Liège, Belgium.
Episode 10
Larnston Gowera,
Managing Director and Board Member at Vision-AI.tech, South Africa
Episode 13
Claire Cote,
Professor, Director of the Centre for Water in the Minerals Industry at the Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland, Australia
Episode 16
Rajarshi Rakesh Sahai,
Venture Partner at Mobility Fund and Managing Director at RJB Renewable Holdings B.V., the Netherlands
Episode 19
Victoria Flexer,
Principal Research Fellow at CONICET (National Scientific and Technical Research Council), Argentina
Episode 5
Leon Stille, the Managing Director of New Energy Institute, Manager for Education and Partnerships at Impact Hydrogen, and Business Development Director at Hovyu BV., the Netherlands.
Episode 8
Wu Chen, Assistant Professor at the Department of Green Technology (IGT) of the University of Southern Denmark
Episode 11
Janez Zavasnik,
Research Associate at Jožef Stefan Institute and External Group Leader at Max-Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials
Episode 14
Hua Shu Hsu,
Professor, Dean of the Research and Development Office at National Pingtung University, Taiwan
Episode 17
Yves Bréchet,
Scientific Director
Saint-Gobain, France
Episode 20
Jacques Martin Lorberg,
Artist, painter, sculptor, musician, and creator, France
Episode 6
Michel Cathelineau, Research Director at CNRS, GeoRessources Laboratory and Olga Chernoburova, Project Manager at LabEx RESSOURCES21, University of Lorraine, France.
Episode 9
Alessandra Hool,
CEO of the ESM Foundation,
Switzerland
Episode 12
Alexandre Nomine,
Associate Professor at the University of Lorraine and Director of GREENANO Erasmus Mundus Joint Master
Episode 15
Alexandra Noirault,
CEO of WEEEMET, Mineral Processing and Hydrometallurgy Project Engineer at the University of Lorraine, France
Episode 18
Rajon Bhuiyan,
Energy Engineer and Management Board Member of the Erasmus Mundus Association, Luxembourg
Episode 21
Dominique Chiaroni,
Senior Research Engineer and expert in Optical Networking at Nokia Bell Labs, France
Interactive Simulator
Navigate Sustainability with the HERawS Interactive Simulator
Discover the impact of technology and policy decisions on sustainability through our interactive platform. Tailor your experience by adjusting sustainability criteria—economic, geopolitical, environmental, and resources—to reflect your priorities. Ideal for students, researchers, businesses, and policymakers, this tool provides insights into the green transition, enabling informed decisions based on critical raw material impacts. Use it to explore potential solutions or assess research and technology impacts, making it a valuable asset for anyone invested in sustainable development.