Information and awareness-raising forum “Critical and strategic raw materials: expert opinions and prevailing attitudes in public opinion”

On November 11, 2025, BAS hosted an informational and promotional forum entitled “Critical and Strategic Raw Materials: Expert Opinions and Dominant Attitudes in Public Opinion.” The forum was opened by Assoc. Prof. Svetoslav Georgiev, Director of the Geological Institute at BAS and National Coordinator of the “Critical and Strategic Raw Materials for Green Transition and Sustainable Development” National Science Program. On behalf of the BAS leadership, the forum was welcomed by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mariana Tian, Scientific Secretary of division 9 “Man and Society.”

The forum was organized by the scientists participating in Work Package 1.7 which is an integral part of the Program and aims to assess the socio-economic impact of the extraction and processing of critical and strategic raw materials (CSRMs) on both the Bulgarian economy as a whole and on incomes and living standards in Bulgaria. Work Package 1.7 is being implemented by the four institutes of the “Man and Society” division of BAS – the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology, the Institute for Population and Human Studies, the Economic Research Institute, and the Institute for the State and Law.

The forum presented key findings from sociological, social psychological, economic, and demographic studies conducted in 2025 as part of the Program. In particular, the main conclusions from in-depth interviews with Bulgarian experts (including representatives of ministries and mayors) in the field of extraction and processing of critical and strategic raw materials were reported. The most important messages from a national representative survey of public opinion in Bulgaria on critical and strategic raw materials were also presented. The main finding was that, with regard to critical and strategic raw materials, Bulgarian society is characterized by both positive attitudes and expectations (for higher wages, a higher standard of living, improved infrastructure in settlements) and strong negativity based on fears that the extraction and processing of critical and strategic raw materials could cause serious environmental damage, including harm to the health of workers in the industry and the local population. A special focus of the forum was the assessment made within Work Package 1.7. of demographic processes in areas where critical and strategic raw materials were extracted and processed – the main challenges from a demographic point of view were formulated (such as overconcentration of labor in certain settlements at the expense of depopulation in other settlements). See the presentation on the topic here.

The forum concluded with the opening of an attractive exposition entitled “Copper – Ancient and Modern.” The exposition was prepared by the “Earth and Man” National Museum and was part of the activities included in Work Package 1.7. to inform the Bulgarian public about the importance and application of critical and strategic raw materials in industry and in people’s everyday lives.

The forum is the first information event within the Program and marks the beginning of a series of scientific forums through which the scientific community and the general public will be informed about the results of the work of the teams working within the “Critical and Strategic Raw Materials for Green Transition and Sustainable Development” National Science Program.