With a projected shortage of 135,000 geoscientists expected to occur in the U.S. within the next 10 years, the National Ground Water Assn. (NGWA) is promoting two new videos spotlighting groundwater fields of study and careers to precollege and college students.
A two-minute video primarily targets secondary school students interested in science and/or the outdoors. Groundwater Is Cool highlights the critical importance of groundwater as a freshwater resource for human use and the environment. It contains arresting statistics, fast-paced graphics, and music.
The second is a five-minute video targeting both precollege and college students, and includes interviews with students, professors, and professionals about the benefits of groundwater careers.
Both videos can be accessed on the Career Center page of NGWA’s website.
The projected shortage of geoscience professionals already is being felt in the groundwater industry, according to NGWA.
“NGWA members have expressed concern about where the groundwater professionals of the future will come from. These videos are just a part of NGWA’s efforts to draw the world’s best and brightest students into groundwater careers of all kinds,” said NGWA CEO Kevin McCray, CAE.
What concerns the groundwater industry presents opportunity for students.
“There are lots of places in college where you can go to get a degree, but there are not so many places in college you can go to get a job. One of the real benefits of geology and hydrogeology—it’s a profession with a job attached to the end of it,” said interviewee Franklin Schwartz, Ph.D., a professor in hydrogeology at Ohio State University.
NGWA encourages all groundwater stakeholders to share the videos with high schools and colleges, as well as other industry professionals.
Source: National Ground Water Assn.
