Natasha Banning

Natasha Banning is an Adjunct Research Fellow at the UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, focusing on soil microbial ecology, mine rehabilitation, and environmental microbiology. She collaborates with industry partners like Alcoa World Alumina through ARC Linkage Grants to advance sustainable management of post-mining landscapes. Her research integrates molecular techniques to study microbial diversity and nutrient cycling in rehabilitated ecosystems.

• Affiliations: University of Western Australia (UWA), Alcoa World Alumina
• Teaching: Mine-site Rehabilitation (Unit EART3339)

Research Interests: Her work spans soil microbial ecology, mine tailings rehabilitation, bauxite mining impacts, and restoration ecology. She employs molecular tools to explore microbial communities in degraded environments, emphasizing sustainable land management.

Grants and Projects:

• Rehabilitation in Hostile Environments (2014): Investigated below-ground ecology in mine tailings.
• Harnessing the Nitrogen Cycle (2010–2014): Focused on agricultural nitrogen solutions.
• National Biochar Research Initiative (2010–2012): Explored biochar applications in agriculture.

Labs/Teams: Engaged in multidisciplinary teams addressing mine rehabilitation, microbial ecology, and environmental policy.