News
Francisca Rivero participates in “Women and Mining” seminar at UDD
The General Manager and Acting Executive Director of SMI Chile was one of the panellists at the event organised by the Faculty of Engineering at the Universidad del Desarrollo, which addressed the challenges and opportunities facing the mining sector in relation to...
SMI Chile team delivers workshop to test water management tool
The collaborative workshop took place at the campus of the Universidad Católica del Norte and brought together representatives from academia, industry and the public sector, with the aim of validating scenarios and criteria related to water use and supply in the...
José Ojeda publishes analysis on the scope of circularity in mining
In the March print edition of Revista Minería Chilena, an SMI Chile researcher examines the impact and innovation opportunities arising from the recent regulatory change that now allows the use of copper slag in infrastructure projects.
Revista Minería Chilena publishes column by Nathalie Jamett
Coinciding with the opening of the ACADES 2026 Congress, SMI Chile Senior Researcher Nathalie Jamett argues in this opinion piece for the need to transition towards shared water management as the most efficient and sustainable model to address the severe water stress affecting mining regions in Chile.
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´.
60 years after the El Cobre tragedy: memories preserved and lessons learned
On March 28, 1965, an earthquake with its epicentre in Cabildo and La Ligua collapsed two tailings’ dams at the El Soldado copper mine, killing more than 300 people and almost completely burying the town of El Cobre. It is one of the biggest mining tragedies in Chile and worldwide.
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 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.
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.
A new chapter for SMI-ICE-Chile
The University of Queensland’s International Centre of Excellence in Chile ends a year of unprecedented growth in 2025 with important new developments, beginning a stage of independently funded operation, and under a new executive management.
SMI-ICE-Chile concludes international Mining Skills training program
The Australian transnational educational project, aimed at strengthening the development of a skilled workforce in the critical minerals sector, has successfully completed three months of training in mine safety, environment, and sustainability in the cities of Salta, Argentina, and Antofagasta, Copiapó, and Santiago, Chile.
Specialized media highlight the Mining Skills program
The Chilean Mining Magazine and the media outlet Reporte Minero publish news articles highlighting the realization of this Australian transnational educational project, focused on mining safety, environment and sustainability, which has already successfully completed its first version in Chile and Argentina.
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.