Description

The National Institute of Science and Technology on Mineral Resources, Water, and Biodiversity – INCT-Acqua offers an innovative, systemic, multidisciplinary and integrated approach to the problems arising from the interference of mineral and metallurgical activities on water quality, soil, air and aquatic biodiversity. Water is the framework for initiatives geared to innovation, scientific development, integration industry-society, capacity building and sustainable regional development. By addressing simultaneously forefront issues in the areas of aqueous processing of materials and biodiversity conservation, the Institute contributes to the development of the mineral industry whereas provides advances in environmental monitoring in target areas, thus contributing to policy making and fostering the concept of mining territories. The group is not aware of any other initiative in Brazil similar to the approach proposed here.

INCT-Acqua has a consolidated, transdisciplinary team able to provide the fundamentals for establishing new environmental visions to the mineral industry. The research topics are approached from the molecular level to industry operations, addressing genuine concerns of the society and industry in close collaboration with the public sector. This is a unique condition for scientific and technological innovation while providing accurate information that helps for better governance of the mining territories.