 Leonard Kornikow
Hydrogeologist
U.S. Geological Survey
Reston, VA
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 BS, Hofstra
University (Geology)
MS, Penn State
University (Geology)
PhD, Penn State
University (Geology) |
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Hydrogeologist |
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"People skills are
invaluable, which is why I say that most important things I did
as a graduate student was go to professional society meetings." |
 
"After several years in graduate school I went to a meeting in Columbus,
Ohio, where there happened to be a session on hydrogeology and groundwater
modeling using computer models, which at the time was a still rapidly
evolving field - and I was sitting in the audience and one of the leading
scientists from the USGS sat down in an empty seat next to me, and I
started to talk to him. And by the end of the meeting he asked me if I'd
be interested in a summer job and I said sure. That summer job then led to
my Ph.D. thesis, which then led to a permanent position with the USGS."
"So the simple way is, have fun. But the people skills are invaluable,
which is why I said earlier one of the most important things I did as a
graduate student was go to professional society meetings. This enabled me
to do several things. One, I saw where the action was. I saw where papers
on the current research were being given, what topics were being
presented, which topics were well received, and that was the best
indication of where to go in the future."
"I would say the biggest change evolved gradually through the - from the
'70s through the '80s with the growing environmental awareness and
environmental movement - in the U.S. or in the world even. This led to
major changes in laws passed by Congress in the late '70s through the 80s.
The Areca and Superfund Legislation which was passed had an enormous
impact on what we do in hydrogeology."
Dr. Kornikow has worked as a research hydrologist with the U.S. Geological
Survey since 1972. He received a B.A. in geology from Hofstra University
(1966) and an M.S. (1969) and Ph.D. (1973) in geology from The
Pennsylvania State University. After graduating from Hofstra, he has a
summer job with a groundwater consulting company, Geraghty & Miller, Inc.
This experience convinced him that using geological knowledge to help
develop water supplies and protect them from contamination was
challenging, stimulating, and useful to society. Hydrogeology then became
the focus of his graduate studies and research career with the USGS, where
his research included the development and application of solute-transport
models to groundwater contamination problems.
Dr. Kornikow has published numerous papers and taught a variety of short
courses related to hydrogeology and groundwater modeling. In 1989 he
received the M. King Hubbert Science Award from NGWA. He is a fellow of
the Geological Society of America and was the GSA Hydrogeology Division's
Birdsall Distinguished Lecturer during 1985-86. He served on the editorial
board of Ground Water (1993-95), as associate editor for Water Resources
Research (1981-84), and as Chairman of the Hydrogeology Division of the
Geological Society of America (1993-94). He also served on the National
Research Council's Committee on Groundwater Modeling Assessment (1987-89),
and on the National Research Council's WIPP (Waste Isolation Pilot Plant)
Committee from 1989-97. He also served the American Geophysical Union as
Chairman of the Groundwater Committee (1980-82) and the Hydrology Program
Chairman (1984-87).
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