STEM2020 - Electric cars and lithium: A trans-disciplinary case study in Chile

This workshop showcases a case study bringing together postgraduate students from different disciplines for a practical experience of interdisciplinary work. Participants will be asked to address the complex and varied aspects of sustainability entangled with the ever-increasing demand for lithium to produce batteries. Taking the part of different stakeholders (business, state, local and civil society actors), they will be expected to negotiate a sustainable solution to address the main social and environmental issues. The case study, based on the real situation in the desert of Atacama, reflects on the multiple impacts of lithium extraction and the conflicting interests of stakeholders.