Soil to Foil: Aluminum and the Quest for Industrial Sustainability

Harvard Museum of Natural History and Harvard Museums of Science & Culture hosts geography professor Saleem Ali on Monday, Nov. 6. In his book "Soil to Foil," Saleem tells the extraordinary story of aluminum. Aluminum is the most abundant metal in the earth’s crust. It is also ubiquitous in the modern world, from aircraft to soda cans. Today, the efficiency with which humans use—and reuse—aluminum is vital to addressing key environmental challenges and understanding humanity’s fraught relationship with the earth. Saleem reveals aluminum's pivotal role in the histories of scientific inquiry and technological innovation as well as its importance to sustainability. He highlights scientists and innovators who discovered new uses for this remarkable element, ranging from chemistry and geoscience to engineering and industrial design. Ali argues that aluminum use exemplifies broader lessons about stewardship of nonrenewable resources: its seeming abundance has given rise to wasteful and destructive practices. Register for this hybrid lecture. Free event parking is available at the 52 Oxford Street Garage.