Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is prevalent in many tropical regions providing livelihoods at significant environmental costs. This type of mining often results in severe deforestation, mercury pollution, and damage to local ecosystems, impacting biodiversity, water quality, and human health. The fragmented information on ASGM complicates efforts to address these issues, as data is scattered across various reports, making it challenging for policymakers and experts to grasp the full extent of the impact and devise effective interventions.
Dr. Paúl Pauca, Professor in Computer Science Department at Wake Forest University, Debashis Gupta, Computer Science Graduate Student and one of the Richter award recipients, and their research team visited La Pampa, Peru in Summer 2024 as part of their fieldwork on their research project titled ASGM-KG: Unveiling Alluvial Gold Mining Through Knowledge Graphs.
The research team seeks to create a comprehensive tool called the ASGM Knowledge Graph that brings together vital information about ASGM from various sources, including government and non-governmental reports, into one easy-to-use database. The idea is to provide a one-stop resource for people who need to understand how ASGM affects tropical ecosystems, especially in terms of deforestation and mercury pollution.
What an invaluable experience! Stay tuned for details on 2025 Richter application HERE! Go Deacs!
