Beth L. Parker

Beth L. Parker is a hydrogeologist and professor at the University of Guelph who has made exceptional contributions to the science and practice of Contaminant Hydrogeology and the protection of groundwater from contamination, that have been adopted internationally to protect water supplies in Guelph and many other communities.

Beth L. Parker
NationalityCanadian
Alma materAllegheny College, Duke University, University of Waterloo
AwardsAmerican Geophysical Union and Canadian Academy of Engineering Fellow
Scientific career
FieldsHydrogeology
InstitutionsUniversity of Guelph, Morwick G360 Groundwater Research Institute, The University Consortium
ThesisEffects of molecular diffusion on the persistence of dense, immiscible phase organic liquids in fractured porous geologic media (1996)

She has pioneered novel downhole borehole devices and procedures used for monitoring bedrock aquifers at complex contamination sites worldwide. As of April 2021, she also holds 4 patents and more than 165 refereed papers,[1] is the most cited Canadian under the age of 65[2] for papers concerning groundwater contamination, and is also the director/founder of Morwick G360 Groundwater Research Institute located at the University of Guelph and the associate director of The University Consortium.

Education and career

Dr. Parker has an undergraduate degree in from Allegheny College in environmental science and economics, a masters degree from Duke University[3] in environmental engineering.[4] Parker began her career working in New York on industrial contaminants in groundwater, particularly in glacial and bedrock sediments.[5] She earned her Ph.D. in 1996 from the University of Waterloo in hydrogeology where she worked on organic liquids found in porous rocks.[6] Following her Ph.D. she remained at the University of Waterloo as a research professor[5] until she joined the faculty at the University of Guelph in 2004.[7]

In 2019 Parker was elected a fellow of the American Geophysical Union who cited her "for fundamental advancement in characterizing contaminant mobility in fractured sedimentary rocks".[8]

Morwick G360 Groundwater Research Institute

Dr. Parker is the director and founder of the Morwick G360 Groundwater Research Institute in which she works alongside Dr. John Cherry in leading a globally involved field-focused research institute with the mission to provide new technologies to further protect underground water supplies. According to Morwick G360, groundwater is the world's most extracted raw material, with one-third of the world's population depending on it for drinking water. Globally, it represents a $400 billion dollar industry as the World's third largest sector, following behind electricity and oil.

Morwick G360's research focuses in three main areas: aged contaminated industrial sites; groundwater resource protection for drinking water; and preventing potential impacts to surface water from upstream unconventional oil and gas development.

The research institute is funded on average of 5 million dollars per year with contributions from governments, multi-national corporations, and big industry members. Morwick G360 is managed by 17 principal investigators (consisting of professors from the University of Guelph and the University of Waterloo) as well as more than 150 graduate students.[9]

Research

Parker's research centers on how diffusion[10][11] impacts the movement of contaminants in groundwater, with implications for remediation of groundwater contaminants. This research includes investigations into dense non-aqueous phase liquid (abbreviated DNAPL), or liquids that are not miscible with water. She has investigated how contaminants such as tetrachloroethylene can be tracked in groundwater[12][13] and potentially removed from aquifers.[14] Her research also includes tracking human viruses in groundwater,[15] and the persistence of methane gas in groundwater[16] which would be explosive if people extract groundwater containing methane from the subsurface.[17]

She holds two patents, US 6274048 "System for alleviating DNAPL contamination in groundwater" and US 5641020 "Treatment of contaminated water in clays and the like", related to alleviation of contamination in groundwater.

Selected publications
  • Parker, Beth L.; Cherry, John A.; Chapman, Steven W. (October 2004). "Field study of TCE diffusion profiles below DNAPL to assess aquitard integrity". Journal of Contaminant Hydrology. 74 (1–4): 197–230. doi:10.1016/j.jconhyd.2004.02.011. PMID 15358493.
  • Parker, Beth L.; Chapman, Steven W.; Guilbeault, Martin A. (November 2008). "Plume persistence caused by back diffusion from thin clay layers in a sand aquifer following TCE source-zone hydraulic isolation". Journal of Contaminant Hydrology. 102 (1–2): 86–104. doi:10.1016/j.jconhyd.2008.07.003. PMID 18775583.
  • Chapman, Steven W.; Parker, Beth L. (December 2005). "Plume persistence due to aquitard back diffusion following dense nonaqueous phase liquid source removal or isolation: PLUME PERSISTENCE DUE TO BACK DIFFUSION". Water Resources Research. 41 (12). doi:10.1029/2005WR004224.
  • Parker, Beth L.; Gillham, Robert W.; Cherry, John A. (September 1994). "Diffusive Disappearance of Immiscible-Phase Organic Liquids in Fractured Geologic Media". Ground Water. 32 (5): 805–820. doi:10.1111/j.1745-6584.1994.tb00922.x.

Awards and honors

References
  1. "The Canadian Academy of Engineering / L'Académie canadienne du génie". Retrieved 2023-10-05.
  2. "Beth Parker". Retrieved 2023-10-05 – via LinkedIn.
  3. solinst (2010-12-06). "High Resolution Multi-level Monitoring for Bedrock Aquifers". On The Level Blog. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
  4. "Beth Parker". CCA Reports. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  5. "Dr. Beth Parker" (PDF). The University Consortium. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-09-10. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  6. Parker, Beth (1996). Effects of molecular diffusion on the persistence of dense, immiscible phase organic liquids in fractured porous geologic media (Thesis).
  7. "AGU - American Geophysical Union". www.agu.org. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
  8. "Parker". Honors Program. Retrieved 2021-09-06.
  9. "About Morwick G360". Morwick G360 Groundwater Research Institute. 2017-01-26. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
  10. Parker, Beth L.; Gillham, Robert W.; Cherry, John A. (September 1994). "Diffusive Disappearance of Immiscible-Phase Organic Liquids in Fractured Geologic Media". Ground Water. 32 (5): 805–820. doi:10.1111/j.1745-6584.1994.tb00922.x.
  11. Parker, Beth L.; McWhorter, David B.; Cherry, John A. (1997). "Diffusive Loss of Non-Aqueous Phase Organic Solvents from Idealized Fracture Networks in Geologic Media". Groundwater. 35 (6): 1077–1088. doi:10.1111/j.1745-6584.1997.tb00180.x. ISSN 1745-6584. S2CID 128703605.
  12. Hunkeler, D.; Aravena, R.; Parker, B. L.; Cherry, J. A.; Diao, X. (2003-02-01). "Monitoring Oxidation of Chlorinated Ethenes by Permanganate in Groundwater Using Stable Isotopes: Laboratory and Field Studies". Environmental Science & Technology. 37 (4): 798–804. doi:10.1021/es020073d. ISSN 0013-936X. PMID 12636282.
  13. Parker, Beth L.; Cherry, John A.; Chapman, Steven W. (2004-10-01). "Field study of TCE diffusion profiles below DNAPL to assess aquitard integrity". Journal of Contaminant Hydrology. 74 (1–4): 197–230. doi:10.1016/j.jconhyd.2004.02.011. ISSN 0169-7722. PMID 15358493.
  14. Nelson, Matthew D.; Parker, Beth L.; Al, Tom A.; Cherry, John A.; Loomer, Diana (1 March 2001). "Geochemical Reactions Resulting from In Situ Oxidation of PCE-DNAPL by KMnO4 in a Sandy Aquifer". Environmental Science & Technology. 35 (6): 1266–1275. doi:10.1021/es001207v. ISSN 0013-936X. PMID 11347943.
  15. Borchardt, Mark A.; Bradbury, Kenneth R.; Gotkowitz, Madeline B.; Cherry, John A.; Parker, Beth L. (2007-09-01). "Human Enteric Viruses in Groundwater from a Confined Bedrock Aquifer". Environmental Science & Technology. 41 (18): 6606–6612. doi:10.1021/es071110+. ISSN 0013-936X. PMID 17948815.
  16. Cahill, Aaron G.; Steelman, Colby M.; Forde, Olenka; Kuloyo, Olukayode; Emil Ruff, S.; Mayer, Bernhard; Ulrich Mayer, K.; Strous, Marc; Cathryn Ryan, M.; Cherry, John A.; Parker, Beth L. (2017). "Mobility and persistence of methane in groundwater in a controlled-release field experiment". Nature Geoscience. 10 (4): 289–294. doi:10.1038/ngeo2919. hdl:1880/115891. ISSN 1752-0894.
  17. "Potentially explosive methane gas mobile in groundwater, poses safety risk: U of G study: Methane that leaks into atmosphere a powerful greenhouse gas". ScienceDaily. April 5, 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-04-05. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
  18. "Beth Parker". May 1, 2014. Archived from the original on 2019-06-18. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
  19. "John Hem Award for Excellence in Science & Engineering recipients". Default. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
  20. "M. King Hubbert Award recipients". Default. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
  21. "Tage Erlander visiting professorship". www.vr.se. 2020-06-16. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
  22. "International Association of Hydrogeologists - Canadian National Chapter". www.iahcnc.ca. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
  23. "O.E. Meinzer winners - Hydrogeology Division". community.geosociety.org. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
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