Baylor Geology Student Awarded Scholarship at Groundwater Summit

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Stephanie Wong, a graduate student in Baylor University's department of geology, was recently awarded a $500 Farvolden Award Scholarship for her poster presentation at the 2010 National Groundwater Association Groundwater Summit, held in Denver, Colo.

Wong was one of four college students to receive the award, and the only student from Baylor. Students could choose to submit a paper or a poster.

Wong, who entered her poster as a part of her master's thesis, had been working on the project since for more than six months. Wong's work is titled, "Quantifying Groundwater Resources in Alluvial Aquifers using Geographic Information Systems." Wong focused on the Brazos alluvial aquifer, which is the water-bearing unit that the Brazos River runs through.

"It deals with using spatial tools to look at the physical properties of an aquifer," Wong said. "The water levels in the aquifer fluctuate a lot and we can use GIS tools to do calculations quickly and accurately on the aquifer. Improving knowledge and characterization of this source of water can help water managers such as the Southern Trinity Groundwater Conservation District make informed decisions about how to manage this aquifer."

The Farvolden scholarships are given every year at the summit in honor of former NGWA senior science council Dr. Robert Farvolden. NGWA's primary goal is to advocate responsible management and use of groundwater.

Students were judged on the extent that their work contributed to groundwater science, engineering, management or policy as well as presentation and insight on the topic of their choice.

Wong, who came to Baylor after doing her undergraduate work at Carleton University in Canada, hopes to work in developing countries to help get them a sustainable, clean source of water after completing her master's degree.

by Diamond Richardson, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805