Geertje Schuitema: Listening, Trust, and Raw Materials - What Psychology Teaches the Mining Sector

This episode of Responsible Raw Materials explores what happens when psychology meets geochemistry. Joining us is Dutch psychologist and behavioural scientist Prof. Geertje Schuitema whose career has spanned research into electric vehicle adoption, smart energy technologies, and, more recently, the societal challenges surrounding critical raw materials. From tackling ‘range anxiety’ in the early days of electric vehicles to understanding why people need an override button on smart technologies, we explore how human behaviour shapes the adoption of new systems and infrastructure. But the conversation quickly turns to mining, public trust, and why the extractive industries often struggle to communicate effectively with society. Drawing on insights from the Horizon Europe VECTOR project, we unpack what the public really thinks about mining and critical raw materials, why listening matters more than persuading, and how open conversations can help bridge the gap between industry and society. We also reflect on the 100 Perceptions of Raw Materials documentary and what happens when people are trusted to form their own opinions, without being pushed towards a particular conclusion. This episode is a thoughtful discussion about responsibility, transparency, and what the mining sector can learn from psychology: that being responsible isn’t only about meeting regulations, it’s also about integrity, honesty, and connecting with ourselves.Watch Geertje's talks from previous Responsible Raw Materials Conferences, and learn about the importance of trust and effective engagement in the raw materials space:https://responsiblerawmaterials.com/post/geertje-schuitema-2025-learnings-from-working-in-a-large-interdisciplinary-consortium/https://responsiblerawmaterials.com/post/geertje-schuitema-2024/https://responsiblerawmaterials.com/post/geertje-schuitema-a-community-perspective-on-just-transition/