Interview with Professor Ira Sasowsky: Karstology is an integral part of geosciences

Abstract

Professor Ira Sasowsky is Professor of Geosciences at the University of Akron, USA, who has made many outstanding scientific contributions to the karstological community in karst hydrogeology, geomorphology, geochemistry and dating. He completed his undergraduate studies in geology at the University of Delaware and defended his doctoral thesis at Pennsylvania State University. He is known by his colleagues and students for his broad knowledge and experience gained during his extensive field work early in his career in oil fields and later in various parts of the world (Brazil, Croatia, Italy, Slovenia, Spain, USA). His research focuses on groundwater flow in carbonate aquifers, sediment transport and palaeomagnetic dating of cave deposits. He has authored numerous scientific papers and book chapters, edited several scholarly volumes and mentored many undergraduate and graduate students. He has received many honours, to name just few of them: Outstanding Teacher Award (Eastern Section American Association of Petroleum Geologists), Science Award (National Speleological Society), Distinguished Service Award (Geological Society of America, Hydrogeology Division), Presidential Citation (Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists), and Service Recognition Award (Karst Waters Institute). Prof Sasowsky is active in many geoscience professional organisations in the USA and abroad.