We are pleased to announce the return of the face-to-face Mercury Australia Symposium.
We would like to invite you to submit an abstract to present at this year’s hybrid (face-to-face and online) Mercury Australia Symposium 2023. The School of Culture, History and Language at the Australian National University will host the Symposium at Coombs Bld. 9 of the Acton Campus in Canberra, and also via Zoom.
Dates: 13th and 14th of July 2023.
Please submit your expression of interest (EoI) here by the 31st March so we can organise the symposium program in April. We will be sending information about the symposium via email to those who have registered their EoI, so please submit an EoI whether you plan to speak or just attend.
Key-note speakers:
We are excited to announce guest speakers including Professor Robert Mason (University of Connecticut) and Dr Katrina MacSween (Environment and Climate Change Canada). More details about our guest speakers are provided below.
We also have the participation of the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water representatives who will provide an update on Australia’s implementation of the Minamata Convention and opportunities for strategic engagement leading up to the next meeting of the international decision-making body (Minamata COP5).
Prizes:
We will be offering prizes for the best student presentation (supported by AINSE – AU$400) and best ECR (up to 5 years post conferral of most recent degree) presentation (supported by PS Analytical ($500) and Metrohm Australia ($500) respectively. Please encourage students and ECRs in your research groups to submit an abstract to present.
The morning and afternoon will be proudly sponsored by Metrohm and the ANU School of Culture, History and Language.
Information:
The abstract submission will open in April, please submit your EoI here to receive information about the symposium information and deadlines. If you have any questions, please contact us on [email protected]
Professor Robert Mason
Robert Mason is a professor in the Department of Marine Sciences, with a joint appointment in Chemistry, at the University of Connecticut. He has studied the environmental fate, transport and bioaccumulation of mercury and methylmercury in both the freshwater and marine environment throughout his career. His current research focuses on the air-sea exchange of mercury and the reactions and transormations of mercury in surface waters and the atmosphere, as well as the factors influencing the formation and bioaccumulation of methylmercury at the base of the marine food chain.
Dr Katrina MacSween
Dr Katrina MacSweencompleted her PhD at Macquarie University, where she studied mercury terrestrial air-surface exchange and the influence of meteorological and environmental factors. She is currently working as a post-doctoral researcher for Environment and Climate Change Canada, specialising in atmospheric mercury research. Her primary research involves the development Canada’s global mercury passive air sampling network and mercury in the Arctic. Using passive air samplers, Canada has created a network to increase global coverage of mercury monitoring, with a focus on monitoring in area with limited access to established technologies at minimal cost. The intent of this study is to assess the feasibility of a globally implemented monitoring program using the Tekran MerPAS® to establish a baseline concentration in remote locations and help with evaluating regulatory measures outlined by the Minamata Convention. There is currently no ongoing program investigating atmospheric mercury on a truly global scale. Instead relying on regional and multi-regional networks that leave large and significant gaps in in our global understanding.
Dr MacSween’s talk in the Symposium will give an overview of how the program has been run, the insights we have gained and provide an update on Australia’s contributions. The strong global picture of atmospheric mercury concentrations developed by this global program provides valuable information on atmospheric Hg patterns and helps to inform the progress of regulatory actions.