Dr. Larry Barber is a research geochemist with the U.S. Geological Survey in Boulder, Colorado, and has spent 40 years investigating the nature, fate and biological effects of inorganic and organic contaminants in natural waters. His holistic research integrates geology, hydrology, chemistry, biology, and society. He received a B.Sc. in geology from the University of Arkansas and a M.Sc. and Ph.D. in geology from the University of Colorado.
For this installment of Science @ Your Library, Dr. Barber will speak on how the sustainability of freshwater resources on island ecosystems relies on detailed understanding of the sources and loading of contaminants and their impact on water quality with references to a survey conducted by the U.S. Geological Society (USGS). Between 2014 and 2016 the USGS conducted a survey of Hawaiian freshwaters on the islands of Kauai, Oahu, Maui, and Hawaii to assess the inorganic and organic chemistry of surface water and groundwater systems. This survey provides an important benchmark of the occurrence and sources for a variety of contaminants that are not typically investigated.

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