Minerals in Action
Free events at Trinity College Dublin invite families, students and the public to discover how modern life runs on rocks and minerals. This engaging and interactive event looks at how we identify minerals, what we use them for, where we get them, how can we manage these resources.
On Friday 25th September 2026 you can attend the Minerals in Action (MIA) European Researchers’ Night, a programme of free events bringing the fascinating world of minerals and rocks and their links to modern technology to life.
Under the theme “Modern Life runs on Minerals….and they‘re everywhere”, researchers, geologists and other experts will show visitors how materials that formed over millions of years have become essential to everything we depend on every day, from smartphones to electric vehicles and renewable energy – and even cosmetics!
What connects mines operating in Ireland more than 200 years ago with the mobile phone in your pocket? The answer is copper and Ireland has a rich mining history. Copper mining at Allihies in West Cork began in 1812, copper, lead, zinc, gypsum and other minerals have all played a part in Ireland’s story. Today, though not mined in Ireland, copper remains indispensable. A typical smartphone contains around 15–20 grams of copper, used to conduct electricity and heat through circuitry and electronic components. It is just one example of an extraordinary fact hiding in plain sight, modern life runs on minerals.
Trinity College Dublin’s E3 Martin Naughton Learning Foundry building will become a hub of discovery, with hands-on experiments, demonstrations, games, talks and interactive activities. Budding young scientists can investigate minerals for themselves, while visitors can meet researchers and explore questions about Ireland’s mining past, present and future, including the challenge of sourcing the materials needed for a more sustainable future. Visitors can learn how to identify minerals, discover the raw materials inside everyday objects and explore how researchers are investigating the minerals and materials we need in the future. Can these all be recycled from what we have? What impact does mining have around the world and is this sustainable?
On Saturday 26 September, the exploration moves around Dublin city, with guided walks led by Prof. Patrick Wyse Jackson, revealing the remarkable geology hiding in the capital’s buildings. Prof Jackson along with Louise Caulfied, co-authored “The Decorative and Building Stones of Dublin – A Walking Guide” which was published in 2025. This unique guided walk brings a Professor in Geology and Curator of the Geological Museum in Trinity together with people who are eager to learn more about decorative stone throughout our capital city. Dublin contains more than 170 different decorative and building stones and the walks will uncover just some of the geological stories beneath familiar streets and landmarks. Places on the walks are limited, so early booking is essential.
Whether you are a family with curious children, a student, a science enthusiast or simply someone who has ever wondered what is really inside your phone, Minerals in Action offers a chance to see the everyday world differently.
Minerals are in our phones, our homes, our transport and our energy systems. They’re everywhere. Come and discover their story for free at Trinity College Dublin this September.
Visit https://miaminerals.eu/ to find out more and book your free ticket. The event is open from 6-9pm, visitors can drop in at any time.
