News

01.06.2026

New Master's Thesis Topic!

This research project focuses on the investigation of mercury sulfide (HgS) nanoparticles in environmental systems, including water, soil and sediments. The student will work on a combination of field sampling, laboratory techniques and analytical characterization aiming to better understand the environmental behavior of HgS nanoparticles.

Geochemical Behavior of HgS nanoparticles in Natural Ecosystems (PDF, 178KB)

01.06.2026

New Paper Published! Congratulations, Samira Stalder!

Honey bee pollen was used to compare potentially toxic trace element contamination at two Swiss apiaries: Witzwil, located on a former waste deposit site, and Bellechasse, 4.5 km away. Across 80 pollen samples collected from May to August in 2022 and 2023, 19 of 22 targeted elements were detected, with highest concentrations observed for Mn, B, Zn, Cu, Rb, Ba, and Sr. Contamination varied by site and season. In June, Witzwil pollen contained significantly higher Mn, Rb, Ba, and Ni than Bellechasse, whereas levels converged in July and August. Observed Cu, Cd, and Cr maxima indicated no increased acute oral toxicity risk to adult honey bees.

Link to the paper. (PDF, 2.1 MB)

01.06.2026

New Paper Published! Congratulations, Ariane Grimmer!

Switzerland has approximately 38,000 registered contaminated sites. Natural hazards serve as an effective pathway for the remobilization of contaminants from such sites—either through physical processes, such as erosion caused by landslides and dynamic floods, or through chemical processes triggered by static floods. The study shows that natural hazards in Switzerland play a significant role in the remobilization of pollutants from contaminated sites. Through the spatial exposure analysis of contaminated sites using hazard maps, approximately 2,200 sites with a potential risk of landslides and about 11,500 sites with a potential risk of flooding were identified. While flooding is already factored into the assessment of remediation needs, landslides should also be given greater consideration in areas where contaminated material can enter surface waters. The approach presented is simple, cost-effective, and transferable to other countries or regions.

Link to the paper. (PDF, 8.3 MB)

26.05.2026

Guest Speaker Dr. Stéphan Guédron

On the 26th of May 2026 have the chance to hear a talk on the topic "The issue of mercury in the context of small-scale gold mining in the Amazon and West Africa" by Stéphan Guédron, a french environmental geochemist working for the Institute of Earth Sciences (ISTerre, Grenoble, France) and the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD). ABSTRACT. Rising gold prices over the past two decades have driven a marked expansion of artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) across intertropical regions, resulting in widespread deforestation, soil degradation, and riverine metal(loid) contamination, particularly mercury (Hg). These impacts are exacerbated by intense rainfall regimes and elevated geogenic Hg levels in soils and further amplified using anthropogenic Hg in gold amalgamation. This presentation will describe the biogeochemical cycle of Hg and the extent of environmental contamination in Amazonian and West African ecosystems using speciation and isotopic approaches and evaluate restoration strategies implemented in these regions.

Guest Speaker Dr. Stéphan Guédron (PDF, 273KB)

28.04.2026

Guest Speaker Jun. Prof. Dr. Marie Muehe

On the 28th of April 2026 have the chance to hear a talk on the topic "From Impacts to Solutions: Managing Climate-Driven Metal Risks in Cropping Systems." Muehe’s research investigates biogeochemical processes in crop and phytoremediation rhizospheres under metal stress and changing climatic conditions. By linking micrometer-scale interactions in the rhizosphere to plant productivity and food quality, she aims to support sustainable agriculture and contribute to global food security. In the talk, Marie Muehe will explore how enhanced microbial activity and accelerated nitrogen cycling drive soil acidification, increasing the mobility of both toxic cadmium and essential zinc. Using spinach as a model crop, this work shows that climate-induced shifts in root exudation and microbiome interactions may preferentially enhance cadmium accumulation over nutritionally important zinc. Finally, mitigation strategies will be discussed, including organic soil amendments and phytoextraction approaches, aimed at reducing food-chain contamination while maintaining soil and crop health.

Guest Speaker Jun. Prof. Dr. Marie Muehe (PDF, 91KB)

21.04.2026

Guest Speaker Prof. Laurel ThomasArrigo

On the 21st of April 2026 have the chance to hear a talk about Redox in action: What electron transfer processes reveal about carbon cycling in soils. Since 2023, Laurel ThomasArrigo is Professor of Environmental Chemistry at the University of Neuchâtel, where she leads the Environmental Chemistry group. Her research investigates the coupled biogeochemical cycling of iron and carbon in soils and sediments, using a combination of field studies, laboratory experiments, and spectroscopic techniques. In this talk, she will present past and ongoing work exploring how redox-driven iron transformations influence the stabilization and release of organic carbon and greenhouse gases in mineral-rich soils. This research provides new insight into soil carbon vulnerability under climate-driven changes in temperature and hydrology.

Guest Speaker Prof. Laurel ThomasArrigo (PDF, 95KB)

15.04.2026

Collaboration to Innovation, excited to share Chuxian Li's new paper in PNAS.

Little is known about how seabird populations have changed beyond decadal timescales, and how long-term climate variability has shaped these trends. In Chuxian Li's new study, she identify mercury (Hg) as a novel tool for tracking millennial-scale changes in seabird populations and show that population thrived under reduced wind intensity. We would like to extend our warmest congratulations to Chuxian LI on the publication of her work which was completed in collaboration with Martin Grosjean’s and Adrien Mestrot’s groups at the Universität Bern, among others, and with the support of a SNF postdoctoral fellowship. We wish her every success in her future projects!

20.02.26

New Colloquium Program!

The Colloquium will take place on specific Tuesdays from February until May from 16h15 to 18h00. Interested people are welcome to attend in person in room 116 of the Uni Mittelstrasse (Mittelstrasse 143). For more information, please download the flyer or contact us via e-mail. Looking forward to meeting you there!

Soil Science Colloquium Spring Semester 2026 (PDF, 3.8 MB)

29.01.2026

Congratulations Luzia!

On Wednesday, 29 January 2026, Luzia successfully defended her MSc thesis titled “Quantification and speciation of atmospheric Arsenic and Antimony”. The Soil Science Group warmly congratulates Luzia and wishes her continued success in her future career. 🎉🥳🎉🥳

27.01.2026

Congratulations Ursina!

On Tuesday, 27 January 2026, Ursina successfully defended her PhD thesis titled “Flood-induced antimony release from contaminated soils: Characterization of dissolved, colloidal, and solid fractions”. The Soil Science Group warmly congratulates Ursina on this achievement, which reflects years of dedication, hard work, and perseverance. We wish her all the best for the next steps in her career.

21.01.2026

Congratulations Janine!

On Wednesday, 21 January 2026, Janine successfully defended her MSc thesis titled “Konzeption eines schweizweiten Bodenlehrpfads: Sichtbarmachung der Diversität und Multifunktionalität von Böden durch öffentlich zugängliche Bodenprofile”. The Soil Science Group extends its warmest congratulations to Janine and wishes her every success in her future career. 🎉🥳🎉🥳

23.12.2025

📚🧪🍽️⚠️ New article published: Literature review on antimony concentrations in foodstuffs and consumer risk assessment 📚🧪🍽️⚠️

This new review by Ursina Morgenthaler, Beat J. Brüschweiler and Adrien Mestrot brings together published data and Swiss enforcement laboratory analyses on antimony (Sb) in food, examining sources, speciation, and potential health risks. Overall, Sb levels in most food categories are low, though certain products—mushrooms, game meat, and some dairy items like whey—can contribute more significantly to exposure. Occasional high outliers also appear in leafy vegetables, dried onions, garlic, and some legumes. Using Swiss consumption patterns, estimated dietary intake remains well below WHO health based guidance values for the general population, though specific consumer groups may face higher risks. The study also highlights key knowledge gaps, including limited speciation data, inconsistent analytical methods, and the need for targeted monitoring of high risk foods and potential contamination sources such as packaging or environmental uptake.

Link to paper (PDF, 2.3 MB)

11.12.2025

Congratulations Florian!

🎉🥳🎉🥳On Tuesday, December 11, 2025, Florian successfully defended his MSc thesis titled “Assessment of Potential Toxic Trace Element Concentrations in Rice Paddies: A Case Study in Switzerland.” The Soil Science group warmly congratulates Florian and wishes him every success in his future career. 🎉🥳🎉🥳

07.12.2025

THANK YOU : 23rd Swiss Geoscience Meeting × 7th Swiss Geologists Day 2025

As part of the organizing committee, we look back with great pleasure on the successful staging of the 23rd Swiss Geoscience Meeting × 7th Swiss Geologists Day 2025 in Bern. Bringing these two major geoscience events together presented a particular organizational challenge, which was masterfully overcome thanks to dedicated cooperation. The numerous symposia and thematic focuses impressively reflected the diversity and strength of Swiss geosciences. The main theme, “Realigning within Planetary Boundaries: Equity and Sustainability in Resource Exploration,” and the high-caliber keynote speeches played a key role in bringing together over 1,000 participants from science, industry, and administration. In addition to the scientific program, the social events, informal exchange formats, and lively atmosphere provided valuable opportunities for networking and discussion. The venue at the Von Roll site proved to be the ideal setting. We would like to express our sincere thanks to all contributors, helpers, and partners who made this event an unforgettable experience.

02.12.2025

Guest Speaker Andreas Voegelin from the department of Water Resources and Drinking Water at Eawag

Andreas Voegelin's research focuses on the biogeochemistry of trace elements (TE) and phosphorus (P) in natural and technical systems, with emphasis on the roles of solid-water interface processes, redox-driven reactions, and the formation and transformation of iron oxides. In this presentation, he will discuss earlier research on key soil biogeochemical processes affecting the fate of TE in periodically waterlogged soils.Further, he will present the new SNF-project “T-Dyn” which aims to assess the release of selected elements (Tl, As, Cu, Pb, Cd) from soils into water resources under current and future climatic conditions in Switzerland.

Link to the flyer (PDF, 88KB)

25.11.2025

Workshop with Dr. Daniel Angerhausen, Explainables

In the Explainables workshops, participants develop key communication skills for interdisciplinary science in research and industry. The portfolio ranges from storytelling, design, and networking to proposal writing and project management—for better communication, project goals, and career development. In this seminar, Daniel will focus on the basics of Storytelling/Message-distilling, Poster/Presentation Design and Branding/Networking.

Link to the flyer (PDF, 120KB)

06.11.2025

New article published: 🌍 Temporal change of arsenic in Sargassum spp. biomass deposit: mass balance, speciation and microbial biotransformation pathways

🌊🧪🦠The decomposition of Sargassum washed ashore poses a significant environmental problem due to the release of arsenic (As). In a 120-day mesocosm experiment under natural conditions, the fate of As in biomass, leachate, and gas phases was investigated. Fresh Sargassum contained 85 mg As/kg (dry weight), mainly as AsIII. In the leachate, the As concentration was initially 10 mg/L and decreased to 1.5 mg/L after 90 days, with AsV dominating. Volatile arsenic compounds, especially trimethylarsine, were also released at an early stage. After 120 days, about 50% of the original arsenic had passed into the leachate, while 0.06‰ escaped into the atmosphere. Despite considerable mass loss, 55 mg As/kg remained in the residual biomass. The increasing bacterial diversity indicates a central role of microorganisms in As conversion. The measured values often exceed the French limits for hazardous waste.🦠🧪🌊
Link to paper (PDF, 7.9 MB)

28.10.2025

Guest Speaker Dr. Sylvain Bouchet

On the 28th of October 2025 have the chance to hear a talk about mercury (Hg) in African terrestrial ecosystems and the loss Hg from soils following deforestation. Dr. Sylvain Bouchet, scientist at the Federal Institute for Metrology and research associate at ETH Zurich, is an analytical and environmental chemist with special interest on the spciation of trace elements and questions related to their mobility, transformation and toxicity. He worked in France, Sweden and Bolivia to investigate the behavior of Hg in aquatic ecosystems, then joined Eawag and later ETH Zurich, where he broadened his research to other trace elements (Se, As, Cu) and expanded his focus on terrestrial environments, especially soils.

Guest Speaker Dr. Sylvain Bouchet (PDF, 96KB)

16.09.25

New Colloquium Program!

The Colloquium will take place on Tuesdays from September 16th to December 16th from 16h15 to 18h00. Interested people are welcome to attend in person in room 002 of the Institute of Geography (Hallerstrasse 12). For more information, please download the flyer. Looking forward to meeting you there!

Soil Science Colloquium Autumn Semester 2025 (PDF, 298KB)

06.09.2025

Night of Research - Nacht der Forschung 2025

What a night! - The Night of Research was a real success for us. It was a pleasure to observe the great interest in healthy soils and our methods from people outside of soil science. Many THANKS to everyone who helped organize it, and many THANKS to those who took the time to visit our booth. 🌃✨🍀

Ursina Morgenthaler (PhD student in Soil Science) was honored to be part of the video campaign for the Night of Research – an event that brings research at the University of Bern to life for all ages. In the video, she talks about our research and what we offer at the NdF. However, as a woman in a STEM field, it is also important to her to appear in public and thus create more visibility for women in research. We would be delighted if you would stop by the Soil Science Unit University of Bern booth!

26.08.2025

Congratulations Dominik!

🎉🥳🎉🥳 On Tuesday, 26.08.2025, Dominik successfully defended his MSc thesis entitled "Geogenic Arsenic in Swiss Rice Paddies". Congratulations from the Soil Science group, dear Dominik, and all the best for your future endeavours! 🎉🥳🎉🥳

18.08.2025

New article published: 🌍 New insights into Antimony (Sb) mobility in soils under changing climate conditions

Antimony (Sb) is an emerging contaminant of concern in shooting range soils, but its behavior under future climate conditions is still unclear. In a 28-day microcosm experiment, it has been studied how temperature and flooding influence Sb release from two contrasting soils, analyzing both dissolved and colloidal fractions. 🔎 Key findings: • Microbial biomass strongly controlled Sb release. • Higher temperatures reduced Sb release in the less contaminated, microbially rich soil, but increased it in the more contaminated, microbially poor soil—driven by temperature effects on microbially mediated redox processes. • 13–36% of Sb in pore water occurred as colloids, including organic colloids/Sb microcrystals (~2.5 nm) and mineral nanoparticles (15–20 nm). ⚡ Why this matters: This study shows how microbes and redox dynamics shape Sb mobility and highlights the importance of colloidal transport under changing climate conditions, pointing to the need for further research on temperature effects.

Link to paper (PDF, 4.6 MB)

11.08.2025

Anerkennung hervorragender Leistungen in der Lehre (ALL) - Recognition of outstanding achievements in teaching

Congratulations to the group leader Prof. Dr. Adrien Mestrot! 🎉👏🎊 The "Seminar in Soil Science" course has been nominated for the "Recognition of Excellence in Teaching (ALL)" award based on a particularly positive evaluation result. In today's world, where education and knowledge are of crucial importance, lecturers play a central role. They not only impart knowledge but also act as mentors who inspire, encourage, and support students. Outstanding courses can have a lasting impact on students' lives and professional careers. With this award, the university recognizes and honors its lecturers' commitment to outstanding teaching. ALL contributes to improving teaching quality, fostering appreciation for excellent teaching, and advancing the development of good teaching at the University of Bern as a whole. Furthermore, it provides mid-level faculty, in particular, with the opportunity to distinguish themselves in teaching.

18.06.2025

Mercury in our food – what does this mean for our health? 🐟🌿

In the current NZZ article on mercury contamination in food, Prof. Dr. Adrien Mestrot (Soil Science Group, University of Bern) assesses the risks: "The mercury [...] mostly remains bound to the soil and cannot be absorbed by the roots of plants." The soil science department at the University of Bern is actively researching mercury in the environment and nutrition – from its entry into soils to its conversion into toxic methylmercury.

05.05.2025

🌍 Trace elements in the atmosphere – an underestimated part of the biogeochemical cycle

Our research group studies the environmental pathways of trace elements – particularly their transfer from soil to other environmental compartments. A previously under-researched aspect of this cycle is bio volatilization by microorganisms, which releases trace elements such as arsenic and antimony into the atmosphere. We have been measuring emissions of arsenic and antimony compounds from soils for over 15 years. To further expand this research, we are now working on the Jungfraujoch with the goal of detecting volatile arsenic and antimony compounds in the atmosphere – in gaseous form, as particles on filters, and in snow. 🎯 Our goal: We want to find out whether these compounds also occur in higher atmospheric layers and in which chemical forms. These atmospheric trace elements can return to soils and water bodies through wet and dry deposition – thus completing their cycle. 🔬 Through this work, we aim to gain a deeper understanding of the dynamics of arsenic and antimony – from the soil, through the air, and back into the environment.

22.04.2025

Visit to the Federal Office for Metrology

The Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology METAS is the federal competence center for all matters relating to measurement, measuring instruments and measuring procedures. It is the national metrology institute of Switzerland. As such, its mission is to ensure that measurements can be made in Switzerland with the accuracy required for the needs of industry, research and administration. METAS covers a wide range of specialist areas, it is also the Reference Laboratory for Chemical Elements and Nitrogen Compounds in Foodstuffs which directly relates to our research. It is important for us to see and understand what we rely on in our daily work: accurate measuring instruments and reliable constants.

10.04.2025

New article published: Mercury Accumulation and Biomagnification in the Barn Owl (Tyto alba) Food Chain

Mercury (Hg) accumulation and biomagnification in the barn owl (Tyto alba) food chain were studied across three trophic levels: soil and moss, small mammal fur from pellets, and barn owl feathers. Spatial analysis showed regional Hg variation, with the highest concentrations in feathers (170 μg/kg) and fur (150 μg/kg), followed by soil (63 μg/kg). Bioaccumulation and biomagnification factors indicated increasing Hg through the food chain. Methylmercury made up most Hg in feathers. Diet strongly influenced Hg levels, with omnivorous prey causing higher fur concentrations than herbivorous prey. Results underscore the role of diet in mercury exposure and its use in ecological monitoring.

Link to paper (PDF, 1.2 MB)

04.04.2025

New article released: Pesticide contamination in indoor home dust: A pilot study of non-occupational exposure in Argentina

Pesticide use is increasing globally, and Argentina ranks fifth. This study examined indoor dust from 48 urban homes in Argentina’s Pampas Region, detecting 41 of 49 targeted pesticides, including banned substances and agricultural-only chemicals like glyphosate and atrazine. Some residues exceeded 1,000 μg/kg, and up to 32 compounds were found per sample. Despite being non-agricultural homes, contamination was linked to behaviors like wearing shoes indoors, pet ownership, flea treatments, and indirect occupational exposure. Results highlight the widespread presence of pesticides in residential environments and underscore the need for better monitoring and research on long-term exposure and health risks.

Link to paper (PDF, 1.5 MB)

03.04.2025

New paper published: ORDNA: Deep-learning-based ordination for raw environmental DNA samples

Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding aids biodiversity monitoring but poses challenges for traditional data analysis. ORDNA (ORDination via Deep Neural Algorithm) is presented, a deep learning method that directly processes raw eDNA sequences, avoiding biased bioinformatic steps. Using contrastive self-supervised learning (triplet loss), ORDNA generates two-dimensional representations of eDNA samples based on read composition. Applied to four diverse datasets, ORDNA outperformed conventional ordination methods in visualizing ecological patterns. This highlights the power of deep learning in eDNA analysis, offering a more accurate, efficient approach to understanding biodiversity and ecosystem health through non-invasive sampling techniques.

Link to paper (PDF, 1.7 MB)

19.02.25

New Colloquium Program!

The Colloquium will take place on Tuesdays from February 19th to May 30th from 16h15 to 18h00. Interested people are welcome to attend in person in room 116 of the Uni Mittelstrasse (Mittelstrasse 43). For more information, please download the flyer. Looking forward to meeting you there!

Soil Science Colloquium Spring Semester 2025 (PDF, 377KB)

11.02.2025

Congratulations Luzia!

On Tuesday, 11.02.2025, Luzia successfully defended her MSc thesis entitled "Impacts of war– Contamination of soils in Ukraine in and around craters with potentially toxic trace elements". Congratulations from the Soil Science group, dear Luzia, and all the best for your future endeavours!

16.01.2025

Congratulations Sinh!

On January 16th, Sinh successfully defended his master's thesis entitled "A lysimeter field experiment to investigate microplastic transport through preferential flow paths in agricultural soils in Switzerland.". Congratulations Sinh and all the best for your future endeavours!

29.11.2024

New article published: Shift of the ecosystem nitrogen cycle from open to closed within a century along a glacial retreat chronosequence at Mount Gongga, southwest China

This study investigates the shift in the nitrogen (N) cycle during primary succession along a glacial retreat chronosequence at Mount Gongga, southwest China. By assessing biological nitrogen fixation, ammonification rates, and nitrogen retention through 15N tracer experiments, the research tracks how nitrogen cycling evolves from open to closed over a century. The findings show that nitrogen accumulation increases rapidly, and over time, the ecosystem shifts toward tighter N cycling, with minimal nitrification in older stages of succession, reflecting a mature system.

Link to paper (PDF, 1.6 MB)

17.11.2024

New article published: Perspectives on using peat records to reconstruct past atmospheric Hg levels

This article examines the potential of peatlands as valuable archives for reconstructing past atmospheric mercury (Hg) levels. As human activities have significantly increased Hg emissions, understanding regional variations in pollution is crucial. Peatlands, with their preserved records, can provide insights into past Hg cycling. This perspective highlights the role of peat vegetation and productivity in Hg sequestration and offers recommendations for improving the use of peat cores to track Hg levels over time, aiding global Hg cycle studies and evaluating mitigation efforts.

Link to paper (PDF, 1.9 MB)

30.10.2024

New article on methodology released: All black: a microplastic extraction combined with colour-based analysis allows identifcation and characterisation of tire wear particles (TWP) in soils

Tire wear particles (TWP) are a major source of microplastics in the environment, yet reliable data on their concentration and characteristics remain scarce. This article presents a novel method for extracting and identifying TWPs from soil, combining color-based analysis with machine learning to distinguish them from other black particles like charcoal. The approach offers high recovery rates and accurate results, allowing for detailed studies of TWP concentrations in highway-adjacent soils, with potential applications in addressing knowledge gaps in environmental microplastic research.

Link to paper (PDF, 1.6 MB)

28.10.2024

New paper published: Marine and terrestrial contributions to atmospheric deposition fluxes of methylated arsenic species

A new study explores the atmospheric deposition of methylated arsenic species, a toxic element from both natural and anthropogenic sources. The research, conducted at the Pic du Midi Observatory in France, reveals significant levels of methylated arsenic in precipitation, cloud water, and aerosols under free tropospheric conditions, indicating long-range transport. By identifying terrestrial and marine sources, the study highlights the importance of atmospheric deposition as a potentially overlooked contributor to bioavailable methylated arsenic in soils, impacting plant uptake and environmental health.

Link to paper (PDF, 1.6 MB)

 

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