Cácio Luiz Boechat Ph.D.

  • Visiting Scholar, Postdoctoral Researcher
Cácio Boechat

I am working on a project that investigates whether changes in land use compromise food security, as well as human and animal health. My work uses machine learning and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy to understand how human activities that replace original vegetation drive changes in soil and water characteristics. The research is focused on tropical regions, but the results can be applied widely around the world.

I am currently an associate professor at the Federal University of Piauí, and am spending my postdoctoral sabbatical at Woodwell Climate Research Center. Over the past decade of my career, I have been monitoring how land use change and human pressure impact soil and water pollution and environmental quality.

Outside of work, I enjoy riding my motorcycle with my brothers from Insanos Moto Clube and taking care of my motorcycles and old collector cars. I also love to spend quality time with my family and friends, visit my grandparents’ farm, take nature walks, and listen to Brazilian country music.

Selected Publications

Risks of soil chemical degradation from atmospheric gypsum plumes around selected extraction and processing enterprises, Northeast Brazil

Morais, J., R.I. de Oliveira, J. da Silva Barros, ... & C.L. Boechat (2024). Science of the Total Environment.

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Heavy metals in soils derived from sedimentary rocks of the Gurgueia River watershed, Northeast, Brazil: background values, distribution and ecological risk assessment

Alves, P.N., K.M. Cardoso, C.W.A. do Nascimento, ... & C.L. Boechat (2024). Environmental Geochemistry and Health.

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