Education Committee Launches New Initiative
for University and College Outreach

By Vicki Kretsinger, GRA Director

Jean Moran, Education Committee Chair, has set the committee in motion to accomplish new goals. At the Groundwater Resources Association of California's (GRA) April Quarterly Board meeting, Board members carried out the nominal group consensus building technique and identified two major education initiatives upon which GRA would focus its efforts. These initiatives include:

• Increase GRA's interaction with California 's university/college groundwater programs, and
• Develop a college scholarship program.

As a first step, the Education Committee is focusing on the first initiative – increased interaction with academic institutions and students. A database has been initiated consisting of a list of faculty from California colleges and universities where groundwater is a focus of their specific research or teaching interests, or they have a recent groundwater-related publication. More than 60 faculty members at 20 California colleges and universities are represented. The database is envisioned for such purposes as: 1) communicating information about GRA and its services and programs to faculty and students, 2) providing a list of potential speakers for GRA events or branch events, and 3) locating experts with research and discipline interests related to groundwater. This list is also “dynamic”, i.e., it will be expanded upon as the committee receives suggested additions. The committee also encourages ideas and suggestions for its application.

Initial contacts with four campuses resulted in enthusiastic responses to the program planned to increase interaction between GRA and academia. Possible outcomes of these initial discussions include GRA representatives speaking at fall campus lectures, possible internship opportunities, GRA representatives meeting with students at established on-campus chapters, informing students of careers in hydrogeology, and providing information on GRA's educational programs that would supplement students' academic curricula.

The committee is proceeding with campus outreach, including distributing information on upcoming events, providing contact information for Branch representatives located nearest their campus, inviting faculty and students to local Branch meetings (as attendees and/or for speaking invitations), and identifying possible GRA speakers for campus functions and lectures as a list is developed.

The Education Committee welcomes your feedback on the new education initiatives. Your participation as a GRA representative to meet with faculty or students is also encouraged. Please send your ideas or indication of interest in being a GRA representative to Jean Moran at moran10@llnl.gov.