A rock-solid link to battery co-operation
Bjarne Almqvist, Senior Lecturer in Rock Physics with specialisation in magnetism.
Bjarne Almqvist is a senior lecturer in rock physics specialising in magnetism at the Department of Earth Sciences. He is a subject representative in the Compel battery initiative and has just organised a full day on raw materials, social challenges and legislation in the battery value chain.
Fieldwork at the Stillwater Complex, southern Montana (USA). Photo: Benoit Petri.
How was Compel Day?
It was a success. The best thing was that we had a broad audience from different research areas and that the programme was appreciated by everyone. There was a very broad range of topics - from raw materials in the rock and why we need batteries to socially important issues such as legislation and land ownership. At its peak, we had close to 50 people in the room and almost 40 on Zoom. I'm also pleased with the more informal conversations in the afternoon, when we were able to reflect on the lecture session in a calm environment.
Did you discuss anything particularly interesting?
Yes, in the discussions after lunch, the idea was to find ideas to work on across disciplines. We managed to gather participants from physics, chemistry, earth sciences, social sciences and material sciences. It's great that there is an interest in getting a bigger picture through our respective fields. It was very much about getting a better understanding of the challenges we face, both in terms of raw materials and society. There are many aspects to consider, such as mining, forestry, tourism, protected areas and fair land distribution.
What was it like to organise this day?
It was both challenging and exciting. I think we were very successful in bringing together a group of experts who complemented each other and gave good presentations. It was a team effort across both institutions and disciplines, so it was fun. I see that approach as beneficial for the future as well. In addition to Compel, which includes both Teknat and the Humsam area, the university's new institute for green energy transition was also involved in the organisation.
Read the article here: https://www.uu.se/en/disciplinary-domain/science-and-technology/news/archive/2025-04-16-a-rock-solid-link-to-battery-co-operation