Rare Talents

摘要

The current shortage of rare-earth elements has made it clear that our ability to create new consumer electronics, develop clean energy technologies, and even maintain the nation's military strength depends on developing a domestic industry to mine and process these materials. But the United States is suffering from more than just a shortage of mining and processing facilities (see “The Rare-Earth Crisis,”p. 58). Right now, the country lacks the technically trained scientists and engineers required to bring the rare-earth industry back up to speed.