Finding Solutions for Uranium and Toxic Metals Exposure
The Western U.S. is home to thousands of abandoned hard rock and uranium mines that pollute nearby water, soil and air with radiation and create health problems in nearby communities. This episode of It’s (Probably) Not Rocket Science explores the research of the UNM METALS Superfund Research Center working to measure toxicity, address remediation, and mitigate health risks for tribal communities living near abandoned mines.
Learn more about UNM METALS.
Read about related projects:
- UNM project brings together diverse team to develop solutions to uranium waste in Native communities
- A new look at Grand Canyon springs and possible threats from uranium mining
- UNM College of Nursing Researcher Awarded Grant for Mine Dust Exposure Study
- Honors College faculty member Myrriah Gómez awarded a Southwest Book Award for Nuclear Nuevo Mexico
About Our Guest(s)
Jose Cerrato
Dr. Jose Cerrato is a professor and regents’ lecturer in the Gerald May Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering at The University of New Mexico. Dr. Cerrato’s research interest is related to biogeochemical processes at the interface of water and energy that affect the cycle of metals and radionuclides in the environment. He leads the E-H2O Research Group which applies spectroscopy, microscopy, aqueous chemistry, and molecular biology tools for the study of complex environmental interactions.
Dr. Cerrato was a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Washington University in St. Louis. He has been a recipient of the OAS-LASPAU-Fulbright Scholarship, National Science Foundation (NSF) Integrative Graduate Education Research Traineeship (IGERT), Oak Ridge Associated Universities Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award, the University of New Mexico Faculty of Color Research Award, and the NSF CAREER Award.
Hosted by UCAM’s Carly Bowling
Long-time listener, first-time podcaster, Carly Bowling, is a university communication representative in The University of New Mexico’s University Communication and Marketing team (UCAM). She is thrilled to help shed light on the outstanding research work being done at UNM, New Mexico’s only R1 university. In addition to producing IPNRS, she contributes stories and videos to the UNM Newsroom, the University’s official communications platform.
Bowling is a graduate of the Arizona State University Walter Cronkite School of Journalism (’19). Her background includes multimedia journalism, documentary filmmaking, photography and writing. She is passionate about science communication and making academic topics and research accessible and interesting to people from all backgrounds and she hopes you’ll consider subscribing to the show!