34: The Critical Raw Materials Shaping Our Future

An exhibition at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History exploring the 34 raw materials designated critical by the UK government and how we source, use and recycle them.

Developed with researchers from the Oxford EARTH Programme and Oxford's physical, life and social science departments, this exhibition examines the critical raw materials behind modern technology, from smartphones to wind turbines. Displays cover what these materials are, where they come from, why demand is growing, and the environmental and ethical issues around their extraction. It also presents potential solutions, including more sustainable mining, efficient design, second-life uses and recycling.