In the inaugural lecture of the Donald L. Sparks Distinguished Lectureship in Soil and Environmental Sciences, Scott Fendorf, senior associate dean of the Stanford School of Earth, Energy and Environmental Sciences, will discuss our water supply, which is becoming increasingly dependent on groundwater, both as a direct source and a means of water storage. Climate change and population growth will only serve to increase our reliance on groundwater. To sustain groundwater supplies, we will need to ensure sufficient aquifer recharge to minimize water-level drawdown.

Understanding, predicting, and controlling the soil processes that underlie groundwater quality and food production are critical for sustaining our food and water in the 21st century.

About the speaker

Scott Fendorf is a soil scientist and biogeochemist whose particular area of interest is on the chemical and biological processes involving contaminants and nutrients. His work on the fundamental biogeochemistry of arsenic coupled with field work has led to an understanding of how arsenic and other contaminants enter groundwater, a process that is impacting aquifers across the globe. He has helped lead a bridging of groups focused on solving what is termed “the largest mass poisoning in history.” Fendorf is the founding chair of the Earth System Science Department and presently the senior associate dean in the School of Earth, Energy, and Environmental Science at Stanford. He received his bachelor's of science degree from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, his master's degree from the University of California, Davis and his doctorate from UD.

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