Considerations for Future Opportunities for GeoEnvironmental Professionals

Charles L. Head, PE, PG ‘79
President, Sanborn, Head & Associates, Inc. Concord, NH

GeoEnvironmental professionals have an important role to play in areas of societal and national strategic relevance, including energy, climate change, and water and land resources. Many exciting opportunities are already emerging, and several examples will be reviewed. The degree to which we will be in a position to leverage these opportunities to meaningfully help shape the future is directly related to the degree to which we can attract highly qualified individuals to the profession. Currently restrictive immigration practices and long-term flagging interest in math and science careers represent significant impediments. While substantial challenges to overcome these impediments exist, there are a number of things that we can and should do now.