Au: Origins Unearthed Opening Lecture

A new Exhibit Spotlight, Au: Origins Unearthed, in the Earth & Planetary Sciences Gallery of the Harvard Museum of Natural History, examines the global impacts of gold extraction—from illegal artisanal mining and mercury contamination to emerging efforts to promote traceability and responsible sourcing. This interdisciplinary program opens with a look at scientific research on mercury contamination caused by illegal gold mining in Amazonian rivers, exploring its effects on Indigenous communities, waterways, soils, and forests. A panel discussion will follow, featuring jewelry designers, activists, and legal experts working in Colombia, Brazil, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Together, they will consider pathways toward more ethical and responsible mining, systems that enable companies and consumers to trace gold to its source, and tools for identifying illegal mining. A reception will follow in the Earth & Planetary Sciences Gallery of the Harvard Museum of Natural History. Free event parking is available with registration. Register by November 11 to receive parking registration instructions. Presented by the Mineralogical & Geological Museum at Harvard University, the Harvard Museum of Natural History, and the Harvard Museums of Science & Culture. LEARN MORE