Geoscience Students Explore Responsible and Mercury-Free Gold Mining

Students from the Geosciences programme at the Anton de Kom University of Suriname (AdeKUS) participated in a Responsible Mining Awareness Session organized by planetGOLD Suriname. Held at the ADEK Guesthouse, the session aimed to increase awareness of the environmental and health impacts of mercury use, promote responsible mining practices, and introduce mercury-free gold recovery technologies.

The awareness session forms part of the broader objectives of the planetGOLD Suriname Project, which seeks to reduce and ultimately eliminate mercury use in the artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) sector. The project also supports the introduction of mercury-free technologies, sector formalization, capacity building, and collaboration with government institutions, academia, local communities, and other stakeholders.

During the event, experts presented on the environmental, health, and socio-economic impacts of mercury use in gold mining while highlighting practical alternatives and responsible mining approaches. Students were encouraged to explore the important role they can play as future geoscientists in advancing a more sustainable mining sector in Suriname.

Jerrel Pinas, Engagement Specialist of planetGOLD Suriname, emphasized the importance of involving students in the country's transition towards responsible mining.

"𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒖𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒆'𝒔 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓 𝒅𝒆𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍-𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒆𝒅 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒇𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒔. 𝑩𝒚 𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒂𝒄𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒄 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒓𝒔, 𝒘𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒍𝒆𝒅𝒈𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒌𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒔 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒂 𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒚-𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓."

Ginny Bijnaar, Lecturer and Acting Coordinator of the Geosciences Programme at AdeKUS, welcomed the initiative, noting that the session complemented the university's curriculum by connecting theoretical knowledge with current industry challenges and practical experiences.

Students actively participated in discussions and expressed appreciation for the opportunity to learn directly from professionals working in the sector. They indicated that the session broadened their understanding of responsible mining, mercury-free technologies, and sustainable resource management.

Through initiatives such as the Responsible Mining Awareness Session, planetGOLD Suriname continues to strengthen awareness, foster collaboration, and invest in the next generation of professionals who will contribute to a safer, healthier, and more sustainable artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector in Suriname.