Opportunities for Critical Mineral Production and Advanced Material Innovation in Alberta - Seminar

Wed, Oct 22, 2025

04:00 PM - 05:30 PM MST

On behalf of the University of Alberta, the Centre for Energy and Mineral Processing (CEMP), working with its partners, is pleased to invite you to a presentation and discussion on Opportunities for Critical Mineral Production and Advanced Material Innovation in Alberta.

 

Dr. John Zhou will present a summary of a recently released Alberta Innovates and Emissions Reduction Alberta critical mineral production and advanced material innovation report. He will highlight opportunities in this space for both researchers and industrial innovators and answer questions from the audience.

 

Hear how Alberta is poised to take advantage of significant new opportunities with untapped reserves of lithium, vanadium, titanium, and zirconium, and the vast potential to transform bitumen into billion-dollar products like synthetic graphite, carbon fiber, and hard carbon. As the world shifts toward electrification, clean energy, and high-tech infrastructure, Alberta’s unique geological resources and innovation ecosystem offer game-changing opportunities—lithium extraction from oilfield brine alone could spark a multi-billion-dollar industry, while asphaltene-rich bitumen may be the key to low-cost, low-emission advanced materials. With strategic investments and continued support from Alberta Innovates and Emissions Reduction Alberta, the province stands ready to become a leader in sustainable supply chains and advanced materials manufacturing.

 

The presentation and discussion will be followed directly by networking with light snacks and refreshments. 

 

Please RSVP on or before 3:00 PM, Friday, October 17, 2025

 

We hope to see you at the session!

Speaker

Dr. John Zhou (Ph.D., P.Geol., ICD.D) is a retired corporate executive and the president of B2V Advisory, where he provides strategic advice for public and private organizations. His expertise spans sustainable resource development, GHG mitigation, bitumen beyond combustion (BBC), and advanced materials including battery materials. John also holds key advisory roles, serving as a Senior Advisor for Emissions Reduction Alberta, a Senior Advisor to CEO of Alberta Innovates, and as an Industry Liaison and Adjunct Professor for the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Alberta. Additionally, he is a steering committee Co-Vice Chair and a board member of the Clean Resource Innovation Network (CRIN). Previously, John was the Chief Cleantech Officer & Vice President, Clean Resources at Alberta Innovates. He also served as a director on the boards for the Alberta Chamber of Resources (ACR) and the Petroleum Technology Alliance of Canada (PTAC). He was the recipient of ACR’s 2023 Technology and Innovation Leadership Award and 2024 ASTech Life-Time Contribution Award.

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John Zhou

B2V Advisory

President, Ph.D., P.Geol., ICD.D

 

Sponsor

Working with UofA partners, this session is being coordinated by the Centre for Energy and Mineral Processing (CEMP) operating within the Department of Chemical and Material Engineering, Faculty of Engineering at the University of Alberta.