This month's Women in Soil Science-Australia Seminar Series speaker is Associate Professor Larissa Schneider who will be speaking on Science Meets History: Soil Chemical Legacies of Mining and Colonisation

About the speaker

Associate Professor Larissa Schneider is an environmental scientist specialising in the biogeochemical cycling of metals and metalloids, with a particular focus on mercury. Her research integrates soil science, environmental chemistry, and historical analysis to understand how human activities, especially mining and colonisation, have shaped contaminant pathways across landscapes. Her passion for soil science was sparked during formative research experiences in the Brazilian Amazon, where she investigated tropical soil systems and their role in elemental cycling. Larissa’s current research spans Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Timor-Leste, where she examines how legacy mining and land-use practices continue to influence environmental and human health. Her work provides critical scientific evidence to support the remediation of contaminated soils and sediments, and contributes to Australia’s international commitments under the United Nations Environment Programme Minamata Convention on Mercury. By linking historical processes with contemporary environmental challenges, she aims to inform more effective policy, regulation, and land management strategies. Larissa is the founder and convenor of Mercury Australia (www.mercury-australia.com.au), a national research network dedicated to advancing understanding of the historical and contemporary uses of mercury and their environmental and regulatory implications.

Abstract

This presentation examines the environmental legacy of colonisation through its impact on soil contamination in the Southern Hemisphere. Focusing on the role of historical mining, it explores how large-scale resource extraction during European expansion has shaped the biogeochemical cycling of metals and metalloids in soils, including Australia.

Drawing on case studies from Potosí, home to one of the largest silver mining operations in history following Spanish colonisation in the 1530s, and the Victorian goldfields in Australia during the 1850s gold rush, the presentation highlights the long-term environmental consequences of these activities. It outlines how legacy contamination persists in soils and sediments, indicating long-term alterations to environmental systems and potential for ongoing exposure.

The presentation also discusses current contamination status and emerging approaches to remediation, emphasising the importance of integrating historical context into contemporary environmental management. These insights aim to inform more effective strategies for addressing legacy pollution and supporting sustainable land use in post-mining landscapes.

Contact the host of Women in Soil Science-Australia Seminar Series: Associate Professor Larissa Schneider