Professor Saleem Ali is the Blue and Gold Distinguished Professor of Energy and the Environment at the University of Delaware, where he chairs the Department of Geography and Spatial Sciences. He also serves as Lead for Critical Minerals at the United Nations University, and has conducted research on the environmental and social impacts of deep-sea mining in partnership with small island nations, including Nauru, the Cook Islands, and Tonga. A scholar who has worked in more than 150 countries, Professor Ali brings both a global and a nuanced perspective. He sees deep-sea mining not as something to rush into or dismiss, but as a process that demands the right standards before moving forward. 

In this conversation, we explore what those standards look like and why the minerals beneath our oceans may be impossible to ignore. Professor Ali provides us with a unique perspective on why we shouldn’t shut down the idea of deep-sea mining yet, because of its great potential and benefits. He advocates comparing the impacts of oceanic extraction with those of terrestrial mining. 

Oliver Gunasekara is the CEO of Impossible Metals, a company focused on deep-sea mining. Impossible Metals aims to take an innovative approach to minimize the environmental risks of deep-sea mining. Before founding the company, Mr. Gunasekara had experience working in technology and entrepreneurship, which helped shape his approach to developing new engineering solutions. Under his leadership, Impossible Metals has focused on developing technologies to make deep-ocean mineral extraction more precise and less environmentally damaging. 

Mr. Gunasekara is confident that Deep Sea Mining is a worthwhile investment, especially as demand for critical minerals continues to grow. He strongly believes that his company will be able to provide a unique and effective pathway towards future deep-sea mining. Through this interview, we learned how certain companies attempt to balance environmental protection with profit and resource extraction. Their machines use a unique extraction method that allows them to target specific nodules without disturbing surrounding sediment or biodiversity.

Bobbi-Jo Dobush is an environmental attorney who works on issues related to ocean protection and international environmental law. Throughout her career, Ms. Dobush has focused on ensuring that environmental protections and international agreements are properly upheld, particularly with respect to ocean resources. This interview aims to provide a more environmental and conservationist perspective on the deep-sea mining debate. In this interview, we learn more about the dangers, risks, and practicality of mining. We are exposed to the belief that deep-sea mining is currently an expensive, unproven, and highly damaging way to obtain minerals, and it is not a real solution to the critical minerals or energy transition problem

Dr. Lisa Levin is a Distinguished Professor of Biological Oceanography at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego. Throughout her career, she has achieved numerous milestones, including co-founding the Deep Ocean Stewardship Initiative, a global network of over 2,000 scientists, economists, and legal experts; being elected to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences in 2024; and authoring more than 275 scientific articles. 

During this interview, Dr. Lisa Levin advises caution against rushing into deep-sea mining, arguing that it has never been done before and that certain ramifications would be impossible to predict. She believes that while now is not the time for deep-sea mining, given its unknowns, these circumstances may ultimately change given future generations, technological developments, and political changes. 

Professor Daniel Kammen is a professor at UC Berkeley, whose work spans energy systems, climate policy, and sustainable development. He has spent decades researching the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy and advising governments and international organizations on climate and energy justice. His recent work includes strong advocacy against deep seabed mining, emphasizing the protection of fragile ocean ecosystems and a just, sustainable energy transition. 

Professor Kammen explains why he believes current pushes for seabed extraction are “nefarious,” from the fragile ecology of polymetallic nodules and the discovery of “dark oxygen” to the risks for island communities and global oceans. They also explore how recycling, better terrestrial mining, and even extracting metals from seawater offer cleaner paths forward, and what this all means for youth inheriting today’s climate decisions.

Dr. Andrew Thaler is a deep-sea ecologist, conservation technologist, and ocean educator whose work focuses on the environmental impacts of human activity in the deep ocean. He is the founder of Blackbeard Biologic and has spent more than 15 years researching deep-sea ecosystems, marine technology, and the impacts of seabed mining.
Dr. Thaler explains why the central challenge of deep-sea mining is not simply whether it is harmful, but how we make decisions amid profound scientific uncertainty. They explore what scientists still do not know about deep-sea ecosystems, the potential effects of mining on marine life, and whether polymetallic nodule mining could ever be conducted responsibly.