School of Health & Wellbeing

This exhibition featuring the research of Dr Evelyn Uribe from the School of Social and Political Sciences explores how lithium extraction in northern Chile is reshaping social and environmental relationships. 

It seeks to reveal the beauty and significance of the Atacama Desert, showing how the salt flat is deeply intertwined with both the ecosystem and the cultural life of the Lickanantay People. It challenges the notion of the desert as an empty or isolated space, instead portraying it as a living landscape where fragile yet vibrant forms of life persist and flourish.

At the same time, the images reflect the concerns expressed by Lickanantay communities, who fear that the Atacama Salt Flat may gradually disappear. Through these visual narratives, the exhibition invites viewers to engage critically with the pace and consequences of the global energy transition—considering not only its environmental impacts, but also who benefits from its promises.

Ultimately, it encourages reflection on our own everyday choices and responsibilities, from how we consume energy to how often we replace the devices that connect us to the world.

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First published: 6 July 2026