Michael Barcelona, Ph.D., the former editor of Groundwater Monitoring & Remediation® from 1994-2002, passed away on April 20 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He was 72.
Barcelona, emeritus professor, retired as a professor of chemistry from Western Michigan University in 2017. He was named its 2010 Distinguished Faculty Scholar for his work focusing on analyzing the impact of environmental pollution and designing remediation efforts to address it.
The 2010 article states: “For more than 25 years, Barcelona has been working to develop tools that can be used to monitor and remediate groundwater, and he is known internationally for his work in developing groundwater sampling methods and for advancing cleanup techniques. He is in demand as an expert witness to a number of states, federal agencies, and other nations.
“According to colleagues around the country, his work has led to more effective enforcement, monitoring regulations and professional practice in tackling groundwater contamination and hazardous waste worldwide.”
Barcelona, an active volunteer who served on various NGWA committees, was also an associate editor for GWMR from 2012-2020. He received NGWA’s Keith E. Anderson Award in 2002 for scientists and engineers who make outstanding contributions to the Association and received the 2020 NGWA Life Member Award.