News
Francisca Rivero featured in lead article of Revista Minería Chilena
In an extensive feature published in the February edition, the General Manager and Acting Executive Director of SMI Chile was asked about the key role that collaboration among different stakeholders has come to play in the development of the mining industry.
SMI Chile researchers publish article in the Environmental Law and Science Journal
In the latest issue of the Journal of the First Environmental Court, a scientific publication, a team of researchers from the Centre has published an article entitled “High Andean wetlands under environmental stress: The contribution of interdisciplinary scientific research to conciliation processes in environmental damage cases”.
Jacques Wiertz interviewed on tailings challenges by Reporte Minero
Dr. Jacques Wiertz was one of the experts interviewed in a feature published by the specialised media outlet Reporte Minero, entitled “Tailings and water: the new challenges of mining management in the face of climate change”.
SMI-ICE-Chile Holds Its 2026 Strategic Planning Retreat
In a spirit of optimism, following the significant achievements attained during 2025, the teams that make up our Centre gathered at the facilities of Universidad del Desarrollo to take stock of past progress and define strategic objectives in a context that presents major opportunities.
SMI-ICE-Chile researcher participates in scientific article on metal and metalloid contamination in the Atacama Desert
In collaboration with nine other nine researchers, the scientific leader of SMI-ICE-Chile, Dr. David Rubinos, participated in a study that presents interesting findings regarding how particulate matter from mining facilities is dispersed up to 70 km, posing a possible risk for the health of nearby communities.
SMI-ICE-Chile awarded ANID grant to incorporate water resilience professional into productive sector
SMI-ICE-Chile’s Processing team will do more in-depth work to develop the water supply optimization tool to improve the resilience and sustainability of supply networks and hydrographic basins in Chile.
Francisca Rivero presented at Tarapacá International Mining Congress
At CIMIT 2024, the general manager of SMI-ICE-Chile presented the tool of integrated water supply systems, as a possible way to address the water shortage in this important mining region of the country.
SMI-ICE-Chile to develop project for integrated water supply solutions in the Antofagasta Region
In the framework of the Create and Validate Program, which promotes innovation by CORFO, the Processing: Energy, Water, and Emissions team will carry out the study ‘Resilient Future: Smart Water Solutions for Sustainable Development´.
SMI-ICE-Chile shared the results of the survey with women from the coastal communities of Teck Quebrada Blanca
In collaboration with the coastal communities team of Teck Quebrada Blanca, SMI-ICE-Chile held a workshop to deliver the results of the survey applied to 131 women from the coves of Chanavayita, Caramucho and Cáñamo, near Iquique, with the aim of know their interests and needs.
CSRM and SMI-ICE-Chile conduct community relations workshop for Lundin Mining
The University of Queensland’s Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining and our Social Performance team conducted a training session on community relations in the exploration stage, which was attended by more than 30 professionals from different operations that this Canadian mining company maintains in Chile, Brazil and Argentina.
SMI-ICE-Chile began work for Teck Quebrada Blanca with women from coastal communities
Francisca Rivero met with women from the coves of Chanavayita, Cáñamo and Caramucho, in the city of Iquique, to learn about their interests and identify their capabilities.
SMI-ICE-Chile comenzó trabajo para Teck Quebrada Blanca con mujeres de comunidades costeras
Francisca Rivero se reunió con mujeres de las caletas de Chanavayita, Cáñamo y Caramucho, en la ciudad de Iquique, para conocer sus intereses e identificar sus capacidades.
SMI-ICE-Chile visits the Soil and Water Chemistry Laboratory at the University of Chile
A team from the Centre met with researchers from the Department of Engineering and Soils at this university to discuss future collaborations on projects related to the restoration of sites impacted by mining and the implementation of nature-based solutions.
Daniela Gamboa’s outstanding presentation at Sustainable Mining 2025
Together with Mauricio Vera, an executive from Codelco – Salvador Division, the SMI-ICE-Chile researcher presented at one of the plenary sessions on: «Learning and reflections from the Salar de Pedernales Enhancement Plan.»
Environmental Rehabilitation Team publishes in scientific journal
As part of the Salar de Pedernales Enhancement project, researchers from SMI-ICE-Chile published a study in Plant Environment Interactions on the factors that contribute to water deficit and salinity in the main species that make up the vegetation systems of this salt flat and its surrounding streams.
Dilan Campos participates in scientific publication on impacts of changes in land use
Together with nine colleagues, the SMI-ICE-Chile researcher published an article in the scientific journal Water on the influence of changes in land use on erosion on the land surface of the Nonguén basin, in the Bío Bío Region, Chile.
SMI-ICE-Chile participated in international mining safety seminar in Lima
Alexander Dabner, an expert from SMI-ICE-Chile, presented a paper on controlling critical risks at the International Seminar on Mining Safety-ISEM 2024, held recently in Peru.
Delegation from SMI-ICE-Chile visits the “Indooroopilly Experimental Mine Site” campus of the Sustainable Minerals Institute
The general manager of SMI-ICE-Chile, Francisca Rivero, and the director of the Center for Research in Technologies for Society, Camilo Rodríguez, took advantage of their presence in Brisbane, Australia, to visit the Indooroopilly experimental mining site. This site...
SMI-ICE-Chile’s Outstanding Participation in the 360° Lithium Forum
Organized by the Center for Research in Technologies for Society (C+) of the UDD Faculty of Engineering and SMI-ICE-Chile, the event brought together authorities and experts from industry, the public sector, and academia to analyze the main production, regulatory, commercial, environmental, and social challenges facing the lithium industry.
SMI-ICE-Chile and UCASAL hold seminar in Salta
The senior staff of our Centre and the Catholic University of Salta, together with local authorities, met at the UCASAL headquarters, with the aim of exploring challenges and opportunities for safe, sustainable and inclusive mining development in the province of Salta.
Specialized media highlight Nigel Wight’s scientific publication on Chile’s exceptional status in lithium matters
The media outlets Reporte Minero and Minería Chilena are publicizing the work of the SMI-ICE-Chile researcher, entitled “Chile’s lithium exceptionalism: Strategic legacies and the contested future of the Salar de Maricunga”, recently published in the journal Energy Research & Social Science.
The reception at the Australian Embassy for UQ makes headlines in the media
The Minería Chilena and Reporte Minero media outlets highlighted the meeting at the diplomatic residence, which brought together the highest authorities of the University of Queensland with representatives from industry, academia, and government authorities, including the Minister of Mining.
Mining Report interviews Nathalie Jamett about the role of water management in mineral processing
The senior researcher at SMI-ICE-Chile was interviewed about the crucial role water management plays in the efficiency of mineral processing and the challenges this industry faces in a context of growing demand for minerals.
Chilean Mining Magazine highlights the contribution of SMI-ICE-Chile
In its May edition, this specialized publication features a report on the contributions of international centers of excellence to the sustainability of Chilean mining, highlighting the work of SMI-ICE-Chile as an R&D hub of the Sustainable Minerals Institute at The University of Queensland (Australia).