Women’s History Month
Highlighting women in the groundwater industry
Bev Herzog
Assistant to the Director for Environmental Initiatives, Emeritus
Illinois State Geological Survey
NGWA Member
How did you enter the groundwater industry?
I was majoring in geology at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and took a groundwater geology class from Dr. Charles W. Fetter, who went on to write the standard textbook in the field, and fell in love with the subject. I went on to get an M.S. from
Stanford, worked in consulting for a while, then went on to a 30-year career at the Illinois State Geological Survey.
What has been your proudest career achievement so far?
I have two. Some research I led on sampling slowly recovering wells, which was published in Ground Water Monitoring Review (now Groundwater Monitoring & Remediation®), received a best paper award and is still being cited. I’m
also very proud of being the first woman and scientist to chair NGWA’s Government Affairs Committee and the changes we influenced in laws and regulations that impact our industry.
Who influenced you to dive deeper into a groundwater-related industry?
Several people, beginning with Dr. Fetter and my graduate school advisor, Dr. Irwin Remson, who encouraged all of us to find a “professional home” in one of the academic societies related to groundwater. I made many friends through NGWA who
encouraged me to become more active in the Association, including several past presidents who gave me greater opportunities for leadership in the Association.
What do you hope for the future of groundwater, hydrogeology, and/or environmental science?
While I hope that the science continues to develop better methods leading to greater understanding, my biggest hope is that practitioners engage more with government officials to assure that the role of groundwater is considered when seeking solutions
for major issues such as mitigating the effects of climate change.
What advice would you give to the next generation of female groundwater professionals?
Assume that you will not be discriminated against based on your gender and you are less likely to feel discrimination. Act like you are part of the group, even when you are the only woman in your group, and perform physically to the best of your ability.
If you leave all of the hard physical labor of the job to the men, they will resent you. Even though you may not be able to carry, for example, two bags of bentonite at a time and struggle with one you will gain their respect.
To read more profiles of women in the groundwater industry, click here.