Brown Lab

Overview of the Brown Lab

The Brown Lab is a field-based course or an applied research project where data, systems thinking and on-the-ground experience come together. You will draw on data from diverse sources to build meaningful analyses of mining and its interaction with the Indonesian economy, environment and society. Research findings may be published, giving you the opportunity to contribute to the broader conversation on critical minerals policy in the region.

Join the Brown Lab

The Brown Lab is open to Georgetown graduate students, GSAP students, and executive education professionals in the fall and spring semesters.

Take a course

Critical Minerals is a three-credit course consisting of 14 classes, a field trip and optional learning to use tools such as ArcGIS, Stella Architect, GEPHI, WITS, and others. 

It examines the systems, economics and ESG dimensions of mining and refining in the Asia-Pacific. By the end of the course, you will be able to think quantitatively about systems in the context of mineral development. 

Applied research

The Brown Lab draws on data from diverse sources to build meaningful analyses of mining and its interaction with the Indonesian nation. You can volunteer to practice techniques learned in the lab — acquiring and cleaning data, testing hypotheses and potentially contributing to publishable results. Research in the Brown Lab can lead to a deeper understanding of:

• The systems and dynamics of illegal mining
• The economic effects of large mines and smelters
• The environmental impacts of large-scale mining and how to address them

Fieldwork locations

Your fieldwork will take you to operating mines, smelting facilities and other sites across Indonesia, giving you direct exposure to the systems and communities you are studying.