Public Lecture | Mercury Rising: The Toxicology of a Global Pollutant by Ashley James

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Every day, we come in contact with many different chemicals that have the potential to impact our lives. Toxicology is a field of science that helps us understand the interactions between us, our environment, and these chemicals, which are sometimes toxic. Heavy metals, such as mercury, are particularly interesting due to their toxicity to human health and their widespread environmental presence. X-ray experiments at facilities like the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource at SLAC can teach us the ways in which these harmful pollutants affect our everyday lives. This lecture will explore different areas of toxicology through case studies of mercury exposure in human and animal models. The discussion will include new insights into historic poisonings as well as other aspects relevant to human health and nutrition. The strength and versatility of synchrotron-based techniques allow us to delve into the sometimes dark, but always intriguing, mysteries that the field of toxicology has to offer.

About the speaker:

Ashley James is a postdoctoral fellow specializing in neurological diseases at the University of Saskatchewan. She holds an undergraduate degree and a master’s degree in toxicology. She later discovered synchrotron sciences and made the decision to pursue a PhD in toxicology, which she received from the University of Saskatchewan while raising three children. Her PhD research with synchrotron experts, Professors Graham George and Ingrid Pickering, focused on using synchrotron techniques to examine the toxic effects and complex dynamics of mercury in both human and animal models. She is the winner of the 2023 Melvin P. Klein Scientific Development Award given by the SLAC X-ray science program. Ashley is passionate about the importance of scientific communication and a strong advocate for women in STEM fields.