Paul Bertsch

Visionary science leader and entrepreneur with 35 years of experience in the fields of soil science, environmental geochemistry, hydrobiogeochemistry, and eco- and genotoxicology. I have championed inter- and transdisciplinary research approaches integrating land, water, ecosystems, cities and infrastructure, social and economic sciences, environmental contamination and toxicology, earth observation, sustainability, and climate adaptation to address the grand challenges facing Australia and the global community.

I have been a leader and promoter of synthetic and advanced engineering biology in CSIRO and Australia more broadly and passionate about how advanced biomanufacturing can transform a carbon intense, linear economy to one that is carbon neutral/negative and circular. For much of my career, my research has focused on the fate, transport, bioavailability and toxicity of metal, metalloid, radionuclide, and organic contaminants, the biogeochemistry of natural organic matter, iron, and aluminium in aquatic and terrestrial environments, and the chemical speciation and ecotoxicology of metals, metalloids, radionuclides, and manufactured nanomaterials and other emerging contaminants in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

I have been involved in research, development, and demonstration of novel soil and groundwater remediation technologies at some of the most challenging contaminated environments in the world. I also have significant international science administration, leadership, and policy experience and have served as a trusted advisor to governments, industries, and community groups on such topics as nuclear waste management, emerging contaminants (e.g., manufactured nanomaterials, PFAS, nanoplastics, pharmaceuticals), environmental remediation, climate change, sustainability, water and natural resource management, as well as for commercialisation opportunities of emerging technologies.

Current areas of focus are on development of biometallurgical processes for sustainable mining of stragic elements and the enhancement of precision fermentation processes to drive economically feasible bioproduction of proteins, chemicals, pharmeceuticals, and materials at scale.