Julie Zettl is this year’s recipient of the Thomas Krug Memorial Scholarship – congratulations!
Julie is a new PhD student with Dr. Beth Parker at the Morwick G360 Groundwater Research Institute. Dr. Parker’s high impact research over the last 35+ years has aided in building a framework for the scientific, private and publics sectors to inform their decision-making regarding groundwater contamination assessment, in-situ remediation of groundwater systems, and groundwater management. Julie is a welcome addition to the team, and we are excited to have her aboard and to celebrate her scholarship.
The Thomas Krug Memorial Scholarship was established in memory of Thomas Krug, who showed immense commitment to environmental stewardship through his 30-year career at Geosyntec applying novel approaches to environmental remediation. Geosyntec is multi-national civil and environmental engineering consulting firm serving clients from more than 80 offices in North America, Europe, and Australia. Thomas loved northern Canada and he inspired many of his friends and family to explore these beautiful lands. He passed away two years ago, survived by his loving wife Janet and his three adult children. Thomas’ family and the employees at Geosyntec were thrilled to award this scholarship again this year.
Julie’s research project reflects Thomas’ commitment to environmental stewardship in northern Canada. She will take part in a study of groundwater quality in the Liard Basin near the community of Fort Liard. Dr. Parker is the Principal Investigator of this multi-disciplinary, cross-institutional project. The project has many collaborators including Morwick G360 Groundwater Research Institute, Acho Dene Koe First Nation, the Hamlet of Fort Liard, Beaver Enterprises, the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) and the National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada, with the aim of completing a baseline groundwater quality investigation in the Liard Basin.
A network of monitoring wells will be installed as part of the research project and later will be operated by the GNWT. The research will enable the development of a groundwater monitoring network that will support the NWT water stewardship strategy to ensure water remains clean, abundant and productive. This scholarship and research program are examples of the synergies the Morwick G360 Institute and Geosyntec have had here in Canada and in the USA over the years. It is suitable that the project involves water protection in Canada’s North, as this was a true passion of the late Thomas Krug.