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\title{Science discussion series: Small-scale mining provides a huge portion of
the world's minerals and metals, but has major effects on health and the
environment. We are a team of scientists focused on finding solutions to
these problems, let's discuss!}



\author[1]{ScienceModerator }%
\author[1]{r/Science AMAs}%
\affil[1]{Affiliation not available}%


\vspace{-1em}



  
  \date{April 23, 2026}


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\begin{abstract}
Hello, Reddit! We are a team of conservationists and scientists here to
discuss artisanal and small-scale mining, its surprising importance to
some of our most beloved possessions, and its effects on biodiversity.
Let's discuss! Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM)---the mining of
metals and minerals by hand, often using tools as simple as a hammer and
a pick----is an enormous part of our industrial supply chain. In fact,
ASM is the main source of income for over 40 million people world wide,
and is responsible for between 15--20\% of all the world's mineral and
metal production. ASM produces huge percentages of the world's gold,
tin, and cobalt supplies, which, as you may know, are all absolutely
crucial ingredients to one of our most important possessions- our smart
phones. As things stand, there are some serious drawbacks to artisanal
and small scale mining. Notably, ASM requires a lot of water to clean
the mined materials before they're ready for sale, and in some cases,
numerous poisonous solvents must be used as well. What results is
contaminated water, decreased biodiversity, and birth defects---and
these are just some of the problems. For these reasons, we've been
extremely interested lately in potential technological, logistical, and
political solutions that could improve the lives of ASM workers and
protect their environments. We're here today with some ideas of our own,
but certainly not all the answers. We hope that we can have a lively
discussion about artisanal mining, really dig into the issues
surrounding it, and maybe even unearth some possible solutions. Today's
discussion is in collaboration with Conservation X Labs, a D.C. based
conservation non-profit that acts as an incubator to help innovators and
organizations bring great conservation ideas to life and get them out
into the world where they can make a difference for the people who need
them. Conservation X Labs is putting up \$750,000 dollars in prize money
in hopes of finding solutions to improve lives of ASM workers and
protect their environments. Our discussion-panel guests today are: Alex
Dehgan (u/Alex\_Dehgan): I am CEO and co-founder of Conservation X Labs.
I recently served as the Chief Scientist at USAID, with rank of
Assistant Administrator, and co-founded the Global Development Lab. I am
also the Chanler Innovator at Duke University and served as Duke's
inaugural David Rubenstein Fellow. Prior to USAID, I worked in multiple
positions within the Office of the Secretary, and the Bureau of Near
Eastern Affairs, at the Dept. of State, where I used science and
conservation as a diplomatic tool for engagement with countries in the
Islamic world, including Iran. I also hold a J.D. from the University of
California, Hastings, and a B.S. from Duke University, and am the author
of The Snow Leopard Project and Other Adventures in Warzone
Conservation. Luis E. Fernandez (u/Luis\_E\_Fernandez): I am the
Executive Director of the~Amazon Scientific Innovation Center (CINCIA)
and an Assistant Professor of Research in the Department of Biology at
Wake Forest University. I am a tropical ecologist, as well as an expert
in the dynamics and impact of environmental mercury in areas where
artisanal mining is common. I have held positions at the Carnegie
Institution for Science, Stanford University, the U.S. Department of
Energy, and the U.S. Environmental Agency. Nicole M. Smith
(u/Nicole\_M\_Smith): I am a cultural anthropologist with research
interests in artisanal and small-scale mining; sustainability and social
responsibility, as well as engineering education. I am an Assistant
Professor in the Mining Engineering Department at the the~Colorado
School of Mines. I am currently the PI for a U.S. Department of
State-funded project addressing mercury use among Peruvian artisanal and
small-scale gold miners, as well as the Co-PI on a National Science
Foundation-funded project that applies an interdisciplinary,
community-centered approach to understanding ASM systems in Colombia and
Peru. I am also a research fellow at the Centre for Social
Responsibility in Mining at the Sustainable Minerals Institute at the
University of Queensland and a scholarly affiliate with the Gemstone and
Sustainable Development Knowledge Hub. James McQuilken
(u/James\_McQuilken): I am a Program Officer in~Pact's Mines to Markets
program, and the Project Manager and Technical Lead on~DELVE, a global
data initiative between the World Bank and Pact to develop an online
platform on artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). Based in Kigali,
Rwanda, I am also the ASM specialist on Sustainable Development of
Mining in Rwanda (SDMR). Based on over a year of fieldwork in Ghana, my
PhD thesis maps small-scale mining networks of gold and diamond
production and develops policy recommendations to improve mineral
certification and formalization initiatives in the region. We'll be
around \textasciitilde{}1pm EST to answer your questions and discuss
artisanal and small-scale mining with you!%
\end{abstract}%



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