The World of Science on Film

To mark the artistic intervention “Rare Earths – 17 Fragments” by Philine Rinnert, the Naturwissen network invites you to a new instalment of the “Film Worlds of Science” series on Thursday 7 May at 6 pm.

The focus will be on rare earths and the familiar patterns of public outrage. On the one hand, technological utopias featuring clean energy, electric mobility and digital connectivity. On the other, the invisible foundations of this future – the extraction of raw materials that alters landscapes, creates global dependencies and gives rise to new geopolitical conflicts. Rare earths and other critical metals have become central building blocks of our present and, at the same time, a canvas for hopes, fears and narratives of the future.

But how are these materials perceived by the public? How do people outside the traditional realms of science, politics or business encounter them? What images and stories shape our conception of the raw materials on which the ‘green’ and digital transformation is based? What role do they play in geopolitical issues? Across science fiction, crime dramas, documentaries, children’s series and podcasts, rare earths and themes of invisible supply chains, technological promises of salvation and ecological costs emerge.

In this event, we ask: How does popular culture tell the story of the materials of the future? What narratives emerge around mining, technology and global responsibility? And how do these images shape our understanding of the ecological and political dimensions of critical raw materials?

Together, we will examine excerpts from films, series and podcasts, newspaper reports, novels and election manifestos that reveal a lively debate between narratives of progress, resource policy and ecological critique. These form the backdrop for discussions on which narratives shape our vision of a sustainable future.