31-2 Developing a Novel Collaborative Internship Program to Train Globally Engaged Environmental Geoscientists with Global Water Consortium, an Ohio Non-Profit Organization.

Session: Environmental Geochemistry and Health (Posters)

Poster Booth No.: 28

Presenting Author:

Mark Krekeler

Authors:

Krekeler, Mark P. S.¹, Savard, Pete², Barnes, Matt³, Thomas, Renie⁴, Currie, Brian S.⁵, Leong, James ⁶, Vest, Jordan⁷, Allen, Audrey⁸, Wudke, Hannah⁹

(1) Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA, (2) GWC Projects, Troy, Ohio, USA, (3) GWC Projects, Troy, Ohio, USA, (4) Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA, (5) Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA, (6) Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA, (7) University of Hawaii at Manoa, Manoa, Hawaii, USA, (8) Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA, (9) Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA,

Abstract:

Water quality is a global crisis needing infrastructure and professional talent development. Global Water Consortium (GWC) is an Ohio non-profit that has over 20 international projects installing clean water bottling plants. In February 2026, a collaborative effort was initiated between the Miami University (MU) Student Chapter of the American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG), MU faculty and students, and GWC staff to develop environmental site assessments for GWC projects. Around 20 undergraduates and 4 graduate students were granted unpaid internships from GWC. Students formed site-specific working groups during the first three weeks. Target goals included identifying the sites to be prioritized, the information available for each site, and the general structure of the chapters. A hybrid distributed work model was adopted, where the group would meet biweekly, and students worked on the project independently between meetings. Students presented initial work at an MU student forum and at a local professional meeting to obtain feedback and benchmark progress. Common issues were gaps in available data, differences in skill backgrounds, and scheduling challenges. To address these issues, recent MU alumni were engaged to assist remotely. MU’s Center for Career Exploration and Success provided nearly $10,000 in financial support for students to attend this GSA Connects meeting and awarded several students competitive internship funding grants totaling around an additional $8,000. Support was also provided by faculty research funds. The students have refined several skills: literary analysis, writing and figure preparation, ion chromatography, high-resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and scanning electron microscopy from samples collected by GWC in Honduras. A compendium of the first few site assessments is expected soon. This effort provides a foundation for continuing internships for MU students and a basis for new GWC facilities.

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