Sand — The underrated raw material of our civilisation

As the world’s most widely used solid raw material, sand is found in concrete, glass, computer chips and even toothpaste. Yet the saying ‘as plentiful as sand on the seashore’ is becoming increasingly inaccurate: not all sand is the same, and suitable deposits are limited. This talk will explain how sand is formed, what physical properties make it so valuable, and why its use is becoming an increasing problem worldwide. It will also examine the role played by rivers and coastlines, and explore the alternatives currently being investigated by researchers. An evening dedicated to the material on which our civilisation is built.