UA SRP Investigators and Mexican Partners Receive Phytostabilization Grant

Jan. 1, 2014

Dr. Raina Maier, University of Arizona Superfund Research Program (UA SRP) Director and Project 9 investigator, UA SRP colleague Dr. Julie Neilson, and Dr. Francisco Molina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), have received a $16, 500 seed grant from the UA-UNAM Consortium. This consortium was developed to strengthen collaboration in research, teaching, and outreach in the drylands region of southwestern USA and northwest Mexico. Their mission is to “to improve the well-being of the people in the region through fundamental research and education on sustainability and adaptation of drylands in the context of climate change, population growth, and urbanization.”

The funded project is entitled, “Phytostabilization of copper mine tailings in the Arizona-Sonora region.” Drs. Maier, Neilson, and Molina will integrate a binational group of scientists with previous experience studying different aspects of phytostabilization of mine tailings in SW USA and NW Mexico.  In the next twelve months, they plan to compile a database of drought-, pH-, and metal-tolerant, non-metal-accumulating plant species native to the region as well as identify complimentary areas of expertise for developing future proposals. Funded proposals meet the mission of the consortium and exhibit cutting-edge collaborative scholarship; in particular, their pilot project was complimented on its clarity and strategic approach, focus on a problem specific to drylands, and ability to support future research.

The proposal will fund reciprocal tours of mining facilities in Northern Mexico and Arizona so that collaborating PIs can become familiarized with reclamation issues on both sides of the border.  The following trips have been planned: May 14-17: Visit of US PIs and grad students to Mexico, and June 23-25: Visit of Mexican PIs to Arizona.

Please help us congratulate the team – and stay tuned for updates!