The University of San Carlos welcomed Belgian hydrogeologist Prof. Pascal Goderniaux of the University of Mons for a lecture and hands-on groundwater modeling workshop held at the Talamban Campus on October 20, 2025.

Undergraduate and graduate students along with practicing civil engineers attended the lecture-workshop (see photo below) for a day of technical learning and knowledge exchange.

Prof. Goderniaux, an expert in groundwater protection and numerical modeling who currently co-chairs the Groundwater working group of the International River Scheldt Commission, presented European best practices in safeguarding aquifers from contamination. His lecture underscored the importance of integrated water resource management, policy-backed protection strategies, and the critical role of scientific modeling in environmental decision-making.

Participants were introduced to Belgium’s approaches to groundwater sustainability, with particular focus on pollution prevention and long-term aquifer resilience.

The workshop portion equipped attendees with practical skills in groundwater modeling software, featuring guided exercises on model setup, calibration, and scenario analysis—competencies essential for assessing groundwater flow and contaminant transport in complex hydrogeologic systems.

The activity forms part of the ARES-CarAqCol research development project, a collaborative initiative among Belgian universities, the USC Water Resources Center Foundation, Inc., and the USC School of Engineering. The project aims to strengthen local capacity in groundwater science and foster international cooperation in addressing water resource challenges in the Philippines.

By linking advanced academic research with real-world application, the lecture highlighted the value of cross-border collaboration in advancing sustainable and science-informed water management.