Webinar
The War Below: The Global Battle to Power Our Lives
In this compelling discussion, host Drew Wandzilak from Alumni Ventures welcomes esteemed author Ernest Scheyder, whose book, The War Below, is longlisted for the National Book Award for Nonfiction and the 2024 Financial Times and Schroders Business Book of the Year Award.
Scheyder provides an unprecedented look into the global battle over essential materials like lithium and copper, which are critical for powering our lives through electric vehicles, solar panels, and other technologies. He delves into the complex tensions surrounding mining, revealing the struggles between industry leaders, conservationists, and local communities, all while painting a nuanced picture of energy independence. With illuminating writing, Scheyder shares the human toll of this conflict and explores why recycling and newer technologies face challenges in achieving widespread adoption.
Don’t miss this opportunity to understand the stakes involved in the race for energy resources!
“The War Below: Lithium, Copper, and the Global Battle to Power Our Lives” by Ernest Scheyder delves into the complex global struggle to secure essential minerals like lithium and copper, which are vital for technologies such as electric vehicles and renewable energy systems. Scheyder examines the intricate conflicts among industry leaders, environmentalists, indigenous communities, and policymakers over mining operations that often threaten sensitive ecosystems and cultural sites.
Reasons to Join:
- HomeGain insights into the complexities of the energy transition from a seasoned journalist.
- HomeUnderstand the implications of mining on climate change and local ecosystems.
- HomeExplore the challenges and potential solutions in securing materials essential for a sustainable future.
Alumni Ventures is America’s largest venture capital firm for individual investors.
About your presenters
Senior Associate, US Strategic Tech Fund
Drew has worked in high-growth industries as both an investor and operator, focusing on how people and technology interact within organizations. As a long-time investor with Alumni Ventures, he has worked across multiple funds and internal initiatives. He has worked on National and State level political campaigns, focusing on Small Business and Entrepreneurial policy. Drew holds a BS from Northwestern University in Education and Social Policy, specializing in Learning & Organizational Development. He also served as an Ambassador for Northwestern’s Farley Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and was recognized in Chicago Inno’s 25 under 25.
Sr. Correspondent Reuters and Author of "The War Below"
Ernest Scheyder is a senior correspondent for Reuters and the author of “The War Below: Lithium, Copper, and the Global Battle to Power our Lives,” which has been longlisted for the 2024 National Book Award for Nonfiction and the Financial Times/Schroders Business Book of the Year. Fortune, The Wall Street Journal, BBC World, the Financial Times, Forbes, Science, the Christian Science Monitor and others have praised the book, which was named one of the Best Books of 2024 So Far by Amazon’s editors. Daniel Yergin, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “The Prize,” said the book “vividly captures the physical and political landscapes over which the future is being fought.” A native of Maine, Scheyder previously covered the U.S. shale oil revolution, politics, and the environment. His interest in journalism and writing began when he founded his high school newspaper. He is a graduate of the University of Maine and Columbia Journalism School. Visit him at www.ernestscheyder.com.