Southern Cross researcher named 2025 President of SETAC

SETAC is a global not-for-profit comprising more than 16,000 members across 90 countries aimed at advancing environmental science and management.

“It’s a tripartite organisation which brings government, industry and academia together,” said Professor Reichelt-Brushett, speaking on the SCU Buzz podcast.

“I joined the Society when I was a postgraduate student and I found a community of people that are passionate about environmental health and chemical management,” she said.

“It feels great to be named President for 2025. I am very invested in that society.”

Professor Reichelt-Brushett is a leader in the field of environmental toxicology and chemistry, having recently published the open-access textbook, Marine Pollution – Monitoring, Management and Mitigation.

“I wanted to make this available to anybody who is interested in helping to respond to the impacts of marine pollution,” Professor Reichelt-Brushett said.

Marine pollution is a topic that Professor Reichelt-Brushett has been tackling for a number of years through partnerships with colleagues in Indonesia. The student programs have received multiple rounds of funding through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s New Colombo Plan.

“The students clean up plastic from mangrove swamps and are involved in mangrove planting and restoration work, with support of local people,” she said.

“The feedback we receive is that it is a life-changing trip. The students feel like they are within the community not tourists.”

In addition to the New Colombo Plan excursions, Professor Reichelt-Brushett has also collaborated on research with colleagues in Indonesia to achieve tangible results for local communities.

“My colleagues from the University of Pattimura and I were looking at mercury pollution as a result of small-scale gold mining. We were able to measure and document the pollution using our fabulous analytical resources here at Southern Cross University, and publish our findings in an international journal.

“The importance of publishing those results was that it made regional authorities pay attention to the problem and a mining area was closed down due to the paper.”

Listen to Professor Amanda Reichelt-Brushett speak about river health, marine pollution and more on this episode of the SCU Buzz podcast.