Belize

ACTIVE:

2024

TRAVEL DATES:

May 14 – June 2, 2024

GENERAL INFO:

For over a decade, Mercer University scientists and engineers have been working to make artisanal and small-scale gold mining safer and lessen its harmful environmental impacts. The laboratory of Dr. Adam Kiefer, Distinguished University Professor of Chemistry at Mercer, is one of few in the world dedicated to developing solutions to this global health crisis. He has led teams to Mozambique, Ecuador, Peru and Guyana to study the issue and work with in-country partners on solutions. This is the first time the program will go to Belize.

Meeting a Need

Artisanal and small-scale gold miners around the world harvest ore from mountains and streams, and then process the ore with mercury and/or cyanide to extract the gold. These processes release a tremendous amount of toxic materials into the surrounding environment and communities. The Mercer team will work with miners, mining officials and governmental agencies in Belize to limit mercury pollution, resulting in a safer environment for those in Belize and around the world.

What You'll Do

Mercer students will teach miners and gold processors basic chemical hygiene and safety when using mercury and cyanide to extract gold from ore. Students will use cutting-edge technology to monitor human health and environmental pollution. They will develop rapid, in-field tests to determine miners’ exposure to mercury and cyanide. Lastly, students will map point sources of mercury contamination to determine the fate of mercury in the atmosphere. All findings will be shared with miners, mining officials and governmental agencies working in the area.

All too often in development people come in, and they say, ‘This is the solution.’ Mercer’s role is to go in and start off by listening. Once we have a better understanding of the problem, we propose solutions with people on the ground whose lives are actually impacted. We’re not there to dispense answers. We’re there to listen, learn and then work together with the community to solve problems.

Dr. Adam Kiefer

Distinguished University Professor of Chemistry

Academic Courses

Students are required to sign up for six hours of credit from among these course options:

CHM 481 – Metals and Society
CHM 481L – Metal Contamination in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Communities
ECV 491 – Environment, Metals and Society

Faculty

Dr. Adam M. Kiefer – Distinguished University Professor of Chemistry, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Dr. Addie Buerck – Assistant Professor of Environmental and Civil Engineering and Director of the Cecil Day Family Center for International Groundwater Innovation, School of Engineering

Mercer tackles global water crisis by bringing clean water to communities in need

Mercer works to reduce mercury pollution in artisanal and small-scale gold mining

Mercer researchers develop faster, cheaper method to identify lead in paint

Interested?

Students interested in participating in a Mercer on Mission program will need to complete an online application before being considered for admission.

Apply Now