Line of research: Environmental Rehabilitation and Ecosystem Dynamics

María Paz has an undergraduate degree in agricultural engineering, a Master of Soil and Water Management and a certificate in Land Environmental Restoration and Rehabilitation from Universidad de Chile. She specializes in environmental monitoring and quality assessments of soil, water, sediment and plant species impacted by mining activities. Currently, she works at SMI-ICE-Chile as a researcher and project coordinator for the Environmental Rehabilitation and Ecosystem Dynamics line, developing and implementing strategies for the remediation of contaminated sites.

Conference Papers

• Valenzuela-Torrontegui, M.P, Rubinos, D., Gamboa, D., Campos, D., Noller, B., Edraki, M & Saavedra, F. (2024). Nature-Based Solutions for the Closure and Rehabilitation of Metal(loid) – Contaminated Mining Land. Planing for closure – GECAMIN.
• Bustos, P., Valenzuela, M.P, Gamboa, D., Campos, D., Rubinos, D. & Saavedra, F. (2024). Phytostabilization Potential of Native Plants Species in Soils Impacted by Mining Activities. Planing for closure – GECAMIN.
• Campos-Quiroz, D., Rubinos, D.A, Valenzuela, M.P, Bustos, P., Gamboa, D. & Saavedra-Mella, F. Assessment of mining pollution on water quality and biogeochemical processes in a wetland. Water Congress – GECAMIN.
• Campos-Quiroz, D., Rubinos, D.A, Valenzuela, M.P, Gamboa, D., Wiertz, J., Márquez, J.H., Noller, B.N., Edraki, M. & Saavedra-Mella, F. (2023). Use of tailings water for irrigation of crops: lessons learned from a long-term field-plot trial. Water congress – GECAMIN.
• Rubinos, D.A., Bustos, P., Valenzuela, M.P, Quevedo, J., Gamboa, D., Campos, D., Márquez, J., Edraki, M., Noller, B.N., Jerez, O., Sanhueza. V, Novoselov, A., Gerding, J. & Felipe Saavedra. (2023). A Practical Methodology for Identifying Sources and Distribution of Metal(loid)s Pollution at a Copper Smelting Site. Sustainable Mining – GECAMIN.
• Rubinos, D.A., Valenzuela, M.P, Gamboa, D., Campos, D.A., Márquez, J.H., Noller, B.N., Edraki, M. & Saavedra-Mella, F. (2023). Bioaccumulation of metal(loid)s by plants growing on soils irrigated with copper tailings water in view of their potential use for land remediation through phytomanagement. World Mining Congress, Australia.

Comunicación científica Communication

• Valenzuela-Torrontegui, M.P, Tapia, Y., Salazar, O., Casanova, M., Seguel O. (2017). Copper phytoremediation using Atriplex halimus and amendments in mine tailings of the copper mining in Chile. Congreso Internacional de Conservación de Suelos y Aguas (CONSOWA) en Lleida, España.
• Valenzuela-Torrontegui, M.P, Tapia, Y., Salazar, O., Casanova, M., Seguel O. (2015). Project for the evaluation of Atriplex halimus and the application of humic acids as a strategy for phytostabilization of mining tailings. Simposio Nacional de la Ciencia del Suelo: Contaminación y remediación de suelos.