Details

Venue: Mineral Sciences Building Room 4-22, Hatfield Campus, University of Pretoria

Time: Wednesday 13 August 15:00-17:00 latest

RSVP: walk-ins are welcome from UP; external people have to RSVP with Matthys Dippenaar ([email protected])

Lecture: From College to Consulting: Turning Field Data into Groundwater Insights

This guest lecture highlights how the field techniques and interpretation skills you develop during hydrogeology courses directly impact work in the real-world - especially when you step into a role at an environmental consultancy or work on groundwater management projects. Fieldwork methods like pumping tests, slug tests, borehole logging, drilling logs and water sampling form the foundation of your work in the field - but it’s your ability to interpret this data that turns measurements into meaningful decisions.

We’ll explore how tools such as FC, Aqtesolv, Global Mapper, and Excel-based calculations are used to process and analyze field data, develop conceptual models, and guide project recommendations. Whether you are assessing aquifer characteristics, estimating sustainable yields, or evaluating contamination risks, your ability to translate raw field data into reliable interpretations is essential.

This lecture aims to connect the classroom to the consulting world - showing you how the techniques you’re learning today will assist in your ability to solve real hydrogeological challenges in future.

Presenter: Arjan van ’t Zelfde 

Arjan van ’t Zelfde is a seasoned groundwater expert with extensive international experience in hydrogeology, water management and soils. Holding an MSc in Soil Science from Wageningen University, he has worked across Europe and Africa, leading large-scale projects in mining, civil construction, aquifer thermal energy storage, and environmental hydrogeology. Arjan specializes in groundwater modeling, project management and multidisciplinary team leadership, employing advanced software like GMS to develop innovative solutions for sustainable water use. By sharing his experiences, he would like to inspire and guide students by showing the relevance of theories and tools they learn at universities and how these applied in real-world projects.