Dr. Alicja Babst-Kostecka Becomes the New CESM Director
June 1, 2024
Dr. Alicja Babst-Kostecka, an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Science and co-PI on UA SRC Project 5, was recently appointed as the Director for the University of Arizona Center for Environmentally Sustainable Mining (CESM).
The center was co-founded in 2011 by environmental microbiologist Dr. Raina Maier and geologist Dr. Mary Poulton. Dr. Maier and Dr. Poulton founded CESM because of the need to translate research findings into action in the mining industry. Dr. Maier served as the first CESM Director, establishing a Technical Advisory Committee comprised of mining industry representatives to help with developing the CESM mission and translation efforts. Subsequently, following recommendations of this committee, the CESM Mine Revegetation Industry-Academic Research Cooperative was initiated. Dr. Maier is still actively involved in CESM efforts.
In 2017, Dr. Julia Neilson became the CESM Director, and she has worked to grow the mission and reach of CESM. Under her leadership, the keystone of CESM, the Mine Revegetation Industry-Academic Research Cooperative, has thrived and expanded. The goal of this research cooperative is to leverage the experience and specific environmental concerns of mining companies in collaborative research to improve reclamation and environmental monitoring technology on active mining properties. Dr. Neilson officially retired in the spring of 2024. She is currently a Research Professor Emerita in the Department of Environmental Science and continues to advise CESM as the Co-Director.
Dr. Alicja Babst-Kostecka was recruited to the University of Arizona to help further develop CESM and has worked closely with Dr. Neilson for the past several years. Her research combines genetic, phenotypic, and environmental information in an integrated framework to study plant adaptation to changing environmental conditions. She is particularly interested in the phytoremediation technologies and mechanisms that allow certain plant species to colonize industrially contaminated habitats at former mining sites.
“I am thrilled by the incredible opportunity to lead CESM,” said Babst-Kostecka. “CESM is a unique center on campus that leverages our academic resources to meet the needs of the mining industry for actionable environmental science and education of its current and future workforce. The center’s mission is to tackle sustainability challenges associated with mining in and beyond Arizona. The societal relevance of this mission is very high, because we develop methods, data, and guidelines for the mitigation of hazards couching in active and legacy mining sites, which promotes landscape and human health. This objective aligns perfectly with my academic interests that focus on the reclamation of degraded landscapes with plant-based technologies”.
Congratulations to Dr. Babst-Kostecka, and wishing her much success in this new leadership position.