Dependence on groundwater as a water resource has increased rapidly in many areas around the world. Proper handling of these resources requires a comprehensive understanding of groundwater systems, as well as high-level skills in the areas of managing groundwater resources, maintaining water quality, and purifying waste water. We, as humans living in the 21st century, are tasked with the crucial environmental issue of developing sustainable groundwater usage policies in order to live in harmony with our water environment.

Groundwater is the sole source of water for the agriculture, industry, and daily routines of the 700,000 residents of Kumamoto City. Owing to the extensive presence of porous lava flows (Togawa Lava) and pyroclastic flow deposits from Mt. Aso, Kumamoto’s groundwater is both abundant and excellent in quality, earning Kumamoto the reputation of having some of the finest groundwater in all of Japan.
Kumamoto City is currently implementing advanced groundwater management policies that target all stages of the groundwater system, from initial recharge to final discharge. With such an active stance on dealing with groundwater issues, Kumamoto is an excellent place to establish a groundwater environmental program, and consequently GelK was born!

The goal of GelK is to educate PhD students on groundwater resource management through preservation of quality and usage conservation, with the ultimate goal being to create a sustainable society. GelK promotes professional knowledge, practical skills, and international viewpoints through an interesting curriculum composed of advanced lectures and experiments on the science and technology of groundwater, as well as the legal management and sustainable use of water resources. Top water environment researchers from numerous domestic and international institutions have been invited to join GelK.

PhD students who have graduated from GelK are expected to serve as active environmental leaders in the various fields required for groundwater resource management, and to contribute to constructing a society that has a properly functioning water cycle. We look forward to having many students from Asian and African countries who are interested in water environmental science and technology join us in exploring the exciting and challenging field of groundwater studies.