Professor Alan MacDonald presented with Presidents’ Award at 2026 World Groundwater Congress
The BGS Head of Groundwater has been recognised with this prestigious award by the International Association of Hydrogeologists for his extensive contributions to groundwater science.
21/09/2026 By BGS Press
The International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH) is a scientific and educational charitable organisation for scientists and water professionals working in the field of groundwater The IAH Presidents’ Award was established in 1995 and is given annually to a member who has made outstanding international contributions to groundwater science and to furthering IAH’s mission to promote understanding and management of groundwater resources for the benefit of humankind and the environment.
This year at the 53rd World Groundwater Congress in Budapest, Hungary, Professor Alan MacDonald has been honoured with the IAH Presidents’ Award for his international contributions to groundwater science and research.
Alan has more than 30 years of experience as a hydrogeologist, researcher and scientific leader in groundwater science. He began his career with BGS in 1992 before joining WaterAid in Nigeria in 1996 and returning to BGS in Edinburgh in 1999. Since 2011, he was BGS lead for international groundwater research and appointed as Head of Groundwater at BGS in 2022. He currently leads a team of 30 scientists delivering research projects across more than 20 countries.
Alan’s main area of research is in water security, particularly in sub–Saharan Africa and South Asia with a focus on poverty reduction. He has led several international research consortia examining the resilience of groundwater to climate change in Africa and Asia, and the continuing functionality of rural water supplies, working closely with organisations such as WaterAid, UNICEF and government ministries. He has published several books, 150 peer-reviewed papers and over 100 BGS technical reports.
Alan served as Chair of the IAH Burdon Groundwater Network and has been a strong advocate for international collaboration and the advancement of groundwater science worldwide.
I am honoured to receive this award. Hydrogeology is an amazing career where we work together to discover solutions to the global challenge of securing safe and sustainable water supplies for all. One of the greatest joys of my career has been working together with friends and colleagues at BGS and getting to meet and work closely with fellow hydrogeologists and water professionals from throughout the world to uncover more of the mysteries of groundwater.
Professor Alan MacDonald, BGS Head of groundwater.
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