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Presidents’ Award, 2014

Jac van der Gun

The annual IAH awards were announced at the General Assembly of the Association in Marrakech. The President’s Award of the Association is given to a hydrogeologist who has made outstanding contributions to the development or application of groundwater science and furthering IAH’s mission to promote understanding of groundwater resources. The 2014 award goes to Jac van der Gun.

Jac spent most of his professional career at TNO, the National Geological Survey of The Netherlands in Utrecht, where he worked on a variety of national and international projects until his retirement in 2008. He will be best known in the groundwater community as the first Director of IGRAC, the International Groundwater Assessment Centre from 2003 to 2006.  His leadership established the Centre and its role as a guardian of groundwater information. Since retiring, Jac has continued to work as an independent consultant, contributing in particular to World Water Assessment Reports, GEF projects and IGRAC. His scientific interest in global groundwater resources culminated in the publication in 2013 of the book “Groundwater around the World”, strengthening the existing work of Jean Margat.

Jac, a worthy recipient of the 2014 President’s Award, had travelled to Marrakech with his wife specifically to receive the award.  In his response, Jac expressed his appreciation and surprise that he should have been considered alongside so many previous recipients of the award, and also warmly thanked his many colleagues with whom he had worked and who had made his groundwater career so enjoyable and rewarding.