Reform Scotland was delighted to host a discussion with Ed Conway, Economics Editor of Sky News.
We discussed Ed’s brilliant new book “Material World”, which was a Financial Times and New Statesman Best Summer Book of 2023. It tells the story of the substances that have built our world and that will transform our future: sand, salt, iron, copper, oil and lithium.
Ed travels the globe, from the sweltering depths of the deepest mine in Europe, to spotless silicon chip factories in Taiwan, to the eerie green pools where lithium originates, and uncovers a secret world we rarely see. Revealing the true marvel of these substances, he follows the mind-boggling journeys, miraculous processes and little-known companies that turn the raw materials we all need into products of astonishing complexity.
As we wrestle with climate change, energy crises and the threat of new global conflict, he shows why these substances matter more than ever before, and how the hidden battle to control them will shape our geopolitical future.
Ed was in conversation with Chris Deerin, Director of Reform Scotland.
This event will be held via Zoom on Thursday 14 September. It can be watched below:
Or listen here: