HYDROGEOLOGISTS WITHOUT BORDERS

Hydrogeologists Without Borders is a group of hydrogeologists, water well technicians, groundwater specialists and groundwater organizations who share a concern about the very high importance of groundwater in developing countries. HWB recognizes the great importance of groundwater in developing countries and the key role groundwater plays in development. HWB places a particular emphasis on potable water supply, sanitation and watershed management in marginalized communities.  HWB seeks to build hydrogeologic capacity to apply local solutions to the development, use, management and long-term protection of groundwater resources in developing countries.

One of HWB's mandates is to support the building of hydrogeologic capacity in developing countries.  HWB will support the six CARA M.Sc. programs and other hydrogeology M.Sc. programs in developing countries through the HWB Farvolden Fellowship Program. The program is now raising funds to provide fellowships for students enrolled in CARA M.Sc. programs and other hydrogeology M.Sc. programs in developing countries.  The program is named in honour of the late Dr. Robert N. Farvolden who helped found the world-famous hydrogeology program at the University of Waterloo in the 1970's.  Dr. Farvolden began workiing in Latin America in the 1980's and initiated projects in many countries including a project (funded by the International Development Research Centre) to initiate the first CARA M.Sc. program at the University of Costa Rica in 1995. This program was the first hydrogeologic training program in the Central America region and was designed to train students from the entire region.

A Fellowship organization committee is now being formed and  the first meeting was held at the University of Calgary on February 23, 2008.  A summary of the meeting can be viewed here.  A brief presentation has been prepared that provides: a) an overview of the importance of groundwater in developing countries, b) a summary of the CARA M.Sc. programs, c) a description of Hydrogeologists Without Borders and d) an outline of the various options for supporting hydrogeology graduate students through the HWB-Farvolden fellowship. The presentation can be viewed either as a Power Point file or Adobe file.  Volunteers are now being recruited and prepared to deliver this presentation to  organizations involved in hydrogeology or clean water in developing countries to invite them to sponsor a student.

Please contact David Bethune at bethuned@ucalgary.ca if you would like to get involved.