Sustainability and Environmental Chemistry in Semi-Arid/Arid Regions: A Unique Research Opportunity with Global Implications

摘要

Dr. Sierra Rayne will be speaking on the interplay of sustainability and environmental chemistry in semi-arid and arid regions worldwide. Drawing on his previous, current, and proposed research on organic and inorganic contaminants in aquatic systems, Dr. Rayne will illustrate the importance of multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches towards tackling environmental problems. A key element of his work is looking at chemical dynamics in environmental matrices, and in particular, photochemically generated reactive intermediates and their impact on biological systems and net ecosystem functions. Semi-arid/arid regions also offer unique opportunities to focus on the role of photochemistry in the biogeochemical cycling of oxyanion-forming heavy metals such as arsenic, molybdenum, selenium, and uranium (among others). Given the importance of semi-arid/arid regions in hosting major mineral deposits, multidisciplinary environmental chemistry research can also help make contributions towards sustainability in the worldwide mining industry. These fields offer great opportunities for researchers and students interested in semi-arid/arid landscapes, and understanding the role and impact of these regions on global contaminant fluxes is at the core of Dr. Rayne’s program.