Monday, October 13, 2008 : 4:10 p.m.

Ground Water Management as An Agent of Social Change

Stephen E. Ragone, Ph.D., Consultant for the National Ground Water Association

Ground Water Management as an Agent of Social Change Ground water has been, since the advent of the submersible pump in the first half of the 20th century, a driving force for change—transforming semi-arid and arid lands into verdant farmland, and contributing to the development of industry and urban communities throughout the world. First considered an endless or renewable source of supply the many recent examples of contamination and overdraft have cast doubt on the sustainability of ground water use. As efforts continue to protect ground water, it is becoming clear that improved ground water management can also serve society in a much broader context: as an agent of positive social change. This interactive session will address how ground water management practices can be improved through the involvement and participation of the international ground water community. Roundtable participants will help shape an emerging vision of “portal” conferences that serve to transfer knowledge and technologies to regions of need.

Stephen E. Ragone, Ph.D., Consultant for the National Ground Water Association Currently a consultant to the National Ground Water Association, Dr. Ragone previously served as Assistant Director for Research of the U.S. Geological Survey. In this position he provided scientific coordination and recommended broad policies and procedures that influenced the conduct of research in the USGS. Ragone received a BA in geology from Hofstra University in 1963 and a Ph.D. in geochemistry from Pennsylvania State University in 1968. He has published more than 65 papers on geochemical processes occurring during deep-well injection of tertiary-treated sewage and on the causes of nitrate pollution in ground water.


The NGWA International Conference on Nonrenewable Ground Water Resources — Sociotechnological Aspects of Nonrenewable Ground Water Resources: Half-Empty, Half-Full, Top-Down, Bottom-Up, and Some Paths Forward