34: The critical raw materials shaping our future | Oxford University Museum of Natural History
Exhibitions
From smartphones to jet engines, almost all of our technologies rely on raw materials mined from the earth. These technologies and the materials used in their manufacture are crucial to the survival and development of our societies. As we transition to green energy and become increasingly dependent on digital technologies, global demand for these materials is growing rapidly. The scientific and industrial communities are urgently seeking more ethical and sustainable ways to mine these vital raw materials, utilize them more efficiently, and recycle them effectively. We see critical raw materials in our news feeds almost daily, but how exactly do they integrate into our lives? What are they? Why do we need them? Where do we get them? And how will we obtain them in the future? The Natural History Museum at the University of Oxford, in collaboration with researchers from the Earth Programme and the Department of Physics, Life and Social Sciences, is preparing an exhibition that will explore these questions and potential solutions to our need for critical raw materials.