A/Prof Larissa Schneider is an environmental scientist investigating the historical and ongoing environmental impacts of legacy mines on metal pollution and its effects on traditional communities in Australia and East Timor. 

Her work provides critical insights into historical contamination, its persistence in the environment, and its implications for present-day pollution management. A key focus of her research is mercury contamination, contributing to global efforts to mitigate pollution and supporting the Australian Government’s commitments under the Minamata Convention on Mercury.

Building upon this research, A/Prof Schneider works to translate scientific findings into practical policy solutions, informing environmental regulations and remediation strategies. 

BSc in Environmental Science (UFMS)

MSc in Freshwater Biology (INPA)

PhD in Applied Science (UC)

• Environmental History
• Legacy contamination from mining and smelting
• Environmental policy and Minamata Convention
• Traditional communities and environmental justice

A/ Prof Schneider is the founder and convenor of Mercury Australia (www.mercury-australia.com.au), a research network dedicated to advancing knowledge on the historical and contemporary uses of mercury and its environmental and regulatory implications. The network brings together researchers across Australia, with a particular focus on Australia and the Pacific, to investigate mercury pollution, inform policy development, and support governance frameworks for effective contamination management.