International workshop in Johannesburg ignites breakthrough ideas for a sustainable materials future

In a powerful demonstration of global collaboration, the Rio Tinto Centre for Future Materials (RTCFM) convened leading minds from across its international network for a groundbreaking workshop in Johannesburg.

The event, focused on the "Circularity of Energy Storage Materials," generated a suite of ambitious, transdisciplinary research concepts designed to transform the sustainability of the energy transition. 

Held from 18-20 November against the dynamic backdrop of the city hosting the G20 summit, the workshop embodied a parallel spirit of international cooperation and forward-looking ambition. The event was hosted in partnership with the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), whose warm welcome and profound academic setting provided deep inspiration for the 60+ attendees.

The workshop tackled the critical challenge of embedding circularity into energy storage materials to ensure the clean energy transition is both scalable and sustainable. 

“It’s really important to start with the actual problem we’re trying to solve. If you fall in love with a solution, you’ll end up trying to find a problem that matches it,” said Marie-Pierre Paquin, Head of Science and Partnerships at Rio Tinto.

“Convening this calibre of international academic excellence to focus so intently on the core challenge of circularity is exactly the kind of strategic thinking we founded this Centre to unlock. The ideas generated here have the potential to fundamentally improve the sustainability footprint of critical minerals.” 

The workshop demonstrated the strength of our partnership. It was incredible to see how the unique combination of skills - from First Nations knowledge to specialised mining and geoscience expertise - can come together to tackle the most complex challenges in our industry. Professor Matt Jackson Co-Director of the Rio Tinto Centre for Future Materials

This sentiment was powerfully echoed by the Centre’s academic leadership. Professor Matt Jackson, Co-Director of the Rio Tinto Centre for Future Materials, stated: “The workshop demonstrated the strength of our partnership. It was incredible to see how the unique combination of skills - from First Nations knowledge to specialised mining and geoscience expertise - can come together to tackle the most complex challenges in our industry.” 

Julie Bouchard, Centre’s other Co-Director, echoed: “What really drives breakthrough innovation is collaboration - bringing academia and industry together to turn ideas into impact. This workshop was a pivotal moment in that journey, putting us firmly on the path to identifying the transformative solutions that could deliver a step change in the circularity of energy storage materials.” 

The workshop was strategically located at the 26 Degrees South venue in Muldersdrift, with a dedicated day at the Wits University campus. Delegates were treated to tours of world-class facilities, including the Geosciences Lab and the Digimine, and a profoundly moving visit to the Origins Centre. This museum, dedicated to the history of modern humankind, traces a path of hominin innovation over two million years, showcasing ancient tools, spiritual artefacts and rich rock art. This journey through deep time provided a powerful reminder of humanity's enduring relationship with materials and innovation. 

The event was officially opened by Prof Thokozani Majozi, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment at Wits, who emphasised the importance of African leadership in global materials research. 

The workshop was expertly facilitated by Zak Wood, a strategist specialising in extractives, conflict, and societal trust. Wood employed his unique ‘Imaginarium’ model, a structured yet flexible process designed to push multidisciplinary teams out of their comfort zones and navigates high-trust, high-creativity environments. 

“Our approach was to build a ‘safe space for the unsafe idea’,” explained Zak Wood. “By meticulously designing the workshop environment and then stepping back, we enabled this brilliant group of researchers to organically build trust, cross disciplinary boundaries, and take ownership of the challenge. The goal was to create the genesis of high-impact ideas, and the ten concepts presented on the final day far exceeded our expectations.” 

Over three intensive days, participants from Rio Tinto and the five global partner universities- Imperial College London, University of the Witwatersrand, University of British Columbia, University of California, Berkeley and the Australian National University- engaged in a collaborative journey. The process culminated in ten groups presenting bold, preliminary ideas for Expressions of Interest (EoI), spanning novel recycling technologies, new business models for circularity and socio-technical systems for minimising environmental impact. 

“What made this workshop successful was the deliberate flow from divergence to convergence, and then testing. It wasn’t just about choosing an idea - it was about actually testing it,” said Grant Bybee, Head of the School of Geosciences at Wits University. “Furthermore, having everyone in one place, sharing meals and conversations, was a secret ingredient. That’s where the essential networks and trust are built, making it possible for people to feel comfortable enough to share difficult, creative ideas that are crucial for a challenge of this scale.” 

The workshop has set the stage for the next phase of the Centre’s mission. The call to action is now for researchers across all five academic partners to refine these concepts and submit world-class Expressions of Interest for funding, turning the innovative sparks from Johannesburg into transformative research projects. 

1. About the Rio Tinto Centre for Future Materials:
   Driven by a shared vision to unite scientific excellence with industry insight, the Centre was founded to enable collaboration across diverse and transdisciplinary teams. At its core are Rio Tinto, a world-leading mining and materials company, and Imperial College London, a global top-ten university. They are joined by partners at the University of British Columbia, the University of California, Berkeley, the University of the Witwatersrand, and the Australian National University – spanning four continents. 
2. About the Grand Challenge:
   Grand Challenge 2 (GC2): "Circularity of Energy Storage Materials" addresses the urgent need to ensure the massive scaling of energy storage technologies-such as batteries - happens sustainably. It seeks adventurous, high-impact research to develop circular systems that minimise environmental and societal impact. 
3. Media Contact:
   For more information, please contact Jonny Prest at jprest@ic.ac.uk.