VASSAR 2026: Contaminant Fate and Transport in Fractured Bedrock (with more music weaved into the experience than any other midwestgeo event, ever)

VASSAR COLLEGE, POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK 14-15 MAY 2026
in collaboration with the NEW YORK STATE COUNCIL OF PROFESSIONAL GEOLOGISTS.

People make the difference.  This year's training, CONTAMINANT FATE AND TRANSPORT IN FRACTURED BEDROCK, at VASSAR was another example of how participants created both a meaningful learning experience but also a memorable one.

Thank you to all of the participants.  Your engagement, positive energy, and willingness to share your own experiences on the subject matter helped raise the "learning bar" based on the course evaluations.  Sometimes it takes courage to raise your hand and ask a question or share a story.  

I'm personally grateful to the camaraderie exhibited during the event, which leads to someone's thoughtful feedback saying one recommendation for future courses is to get everyone together in the evening because there's so much good momentum built during the training day.  THAT'S GREAT FEEDBACK!

One of the most memorable moments for me, was the beautiful piano music played each morning before class by Cissy Ming.  That alone is a midwestgeo first, but Cissy was also willing to play after the class where she allowed me to video her playing with the rock core boxes under the piano!  Thank you, Cissy, for sharing your talent and gifts (and lots of super thoughtful questions) during the class.

Special Thank You to our friends at the NEW YORK STATE COUNCIL OF PROFESSIONAL GEOLOGISTS for a fun collaboration.  I tip my hat to Kelly Weyer, John Nadeau, Gene Florentino, Mark Williams, Chris Wenczel, Robert Garfield, Cheryl Neary, Erik Gustafson, Greg Wyka, and all of the other directors and committee members.  (Thank you, Kelly, for your leadership during the courses with welcoming everyone.)

A classic VASSAR experience was also presented to the entire course at lunch when the "VASSAR DEVILS" performed a harmonious capella.  It's fun to recognize the songs but hear them sang so differently and beautifully with perfect timing and harmony.   On behalf of the entire class, we are grateful to the VASSAR DEVILS and especially Martha Barry for arranging the wonderful performance.

In fact, a special Thank You again to Martha Barry at ALUMNAE HOUSE for referencing last year's event on their dedicated webpage:  https://alumnaehouse.com/photo-gallery#events

On behalf of instructors Matt Reeves, Martin Helmke, and myself, thank you to the participants, the caterers, the performers, and Alumnae House team for helping make the event super special.  -Dan.

MODERN CONTAMINANT HYDROLOGY at The Watershed Institute, Pennington-Princeton New Jersey

 PENNINGTON-PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY 29-30 APRIL 2026

The 2-day training for MODERN CONTAMINANT HYDROLOGY at The Watershed Institute was packed with expertise in every corner of the room.

Thank you to all the participants for your active contributions before, during, and after the event.  I appreciate you taking the time to share ALL of your expertise.   I learned plenty along the way too.  

Tom Sale and I at the onset encourage the 2 days to become a dialogue between everyone because it's the two-way conversations that enrich learning moments for everyone, especially me.

The course is designed around the new textbook, Modern Subsurface Contaminant Hydrology written by Tom Sale and Joseph Scalia (2025). The goal is to advance modern conceptual foundations for contaminant transport in natural subsurface settings in support of better use of finite cleanup resources.

The new textbook moves away from the conceptualization of a homogenous "classroom aquifer", recognizes the capacities of aquifers to passively assimilate contaminants, and stylistically embraces inherent uncertainties. The primary audiences for the book are professionals needing a modern reference and the generalized framework to achieve realistic remediation goals.

The course sets a rigorous foundation of first principles for modern contaminant transport wherein the term "modern" is based on embracing 9 main points listed on the following page. Sources for additional information include a remarkable set of electronic books (e-books) developed through The Groundwater Project that have been written by leading scientist and engineers whose experience spans the last half century under the leadership of Dr. John Cherry.

This course is designed to walk professionals through modern paradigms of contaminant hydrology and provide resources for anyone working in characterization and remediation of contaminated sites.

We tip our hat to all the course participants because we all have a noble responsibility to advance our God-Given talents and to serve as stewards of this precious planet.

More to the story: Aquifer Testing in Texas 2026

ARTICLE: Aquifer Testing in Texas 2026 

MODERN CONTAMINANT HYDROLOGY - Calgary April 2026

 April 14-15, 2026, Calgary, Alberta

Thank you to each participant who attended the 2-day training course MODERN CONTAMINANT HYDROLOGY in Calgary.  

Thank you to MONTROSE ENVIRONMENTAL who hosted us in their outstanding training room.

You made the training experience fun for Tom and me, but more importantly, you made it inspiring. Professionalism abounds in Calgary and this event reflected that professionalism.  Tom and I appreciated all the discussions, the questions, and especially the personal connections made during the course.  Tom and I were both inspired by the pride people have in their work along with the mutual support and respect demonstrated between all of the participants.

You heard me say that that the mission of MIDWEST GEOSCIENCES GROUP is to simply help people in anyway we can.  It's a mission we don't take lightly, or for granted.  

Tom Sale and I appreciate the opportunity to meet the participants, engage in conversations, and share our humble insights. Thank you for the privilege to contribute to your inevitable success.