Events

They survived in space, can withstand extreme heat and radiation, and have roamed the Earth for half a billion years. But how are tardigrades, those remarkable microscopic animals found in soils worldwide, faring in our contaminated urban environments? This is just one of the questions that Associate Professor Suzie Reichman and the SoilTox Lab at the University of Melbourne have been asking, as part of a broader program of cutting-edge research into contaminants in urban soils.

In this webinar, Suzie will take you through her research on urban soil contamination, spanning fundamental science through to findings with direct relevance to the land contamination industry. Drawing on published research and current projects, the talk will touch on topics including:

• Tardigrades in urban soils: introducing early-stage ecology research exploring species diversity and abundance across urban green spaces, and the potential future role of these remarkable organisms as biological indicators of soil health and contamination
• Metals in urban veggie gardens: what research on backyard food production tells us about human exposure pathways and risk
• Tyre wear particles in roadside soils: emerging findings on the distribution of this understudied contaminant in urban environments
• Linking science to practice: how this research connects to risk assessment frameworks, including the Assessment of Contaminated Sites NEPM, and what it means for how we assess and manage contaminated urban land

Whether you are a consultant, regulator, or researcher working in the land contamination space, this webinar offers an engaging and accessible overview of urban soil contamination research at the cutting edge and an opportunity to connect with the SoilTox Lab, a research group with extensive industry and government partnerships and a genuine interest in forming new collaborations.