(WESTERVILLE, OH — September 29, 2011) Jiu Jimmy Jiao, Ph.D., of the University of Hong Kong has received the 2011 John Hem Excellence in Science & Engineering Award from the National Ground Water Association.
The John Hem Award recognizes recent significant scientific or engineering contributions to the understanding of groundwater. The award will be presented December 1 at NGWA’s 2011 Ground Water Expo and Annual Meeting in Las Vegas.
Nominator John A. Cherry, Ph.D., distinguished professor emeritus, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, said Jiao is particularly noteworthy for his contributions to coastal hydrogeology research, and the volume and quality of his published articles.
“Dr. Jiao is very deserving of the John Hem Award for his contributions in coastal hydrogeology because he, like John Hem, has demonstrated exceptional scientific curiosity across a broad range of groundwater science,” Cherry wrote.
"In my opinion, coastal hydrogeology has become one of the most important frontier topic areas in groundwater science…because most of the world's population now lives within 100 km of ocean coastlines and large coastal population density has caused many hydrogeological problems to become important," Cherry continued. "Jiao has made abundant use of first principles and he has had the courage to venture into new areas of groundwater science where abundant problems exist with social relevance.”
Hem was a 20th century scientist and lifelong employee of the U.S. Geological Survey who did pioneering work, particularly in the area of natural water chemistry as a tool in hydrological studies.
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NGWA, a nonprofit organization composed of U.S. and international groundwater professionals — contractors, equipment manufacturers, suppliers, scientists, and engineers — is dedicated to advancing groundwater knowledge. NGWA’s vision is to be the leading groundwater association that advocates the responsible development, management, and use of water.
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