A child washes earth in river water, looking for gold
Artisanal mining and human rights
One of my long-term research interests has centered around how people extract natural resources from their environments – and the benefits and risks of this work. I am particularly interested in women's work in the mining value chain. While mining sites can be places of great risk and abuse, they also represent a source of economic opportunity. I've lead a number of projects that explore the balance of hazards and benefits in these very dynamic and complex environments. Check this featured World Bank blog and video I created in collaboration with Maren Wickwire of Manifest Media. Here is some additional reading for those interested in this issue:
"This mine has become our farmland": Critical perspectives on the coevolution of artisanal mining and conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo | Resources Policy