Jason Polk

Dr. Jason S. Polk is a Professor of Environmental Geoscience at Western Kentucky University. He serves as Director of the Center for Human GeoEnvironmental Studies (CHNGES) and HydroAnlaytical Lab. Dr. Polk earned his doctorate degree from the University of South Florida in Geography and Environmental Science and Policy and his current research investigates groundwater resources, isotope hydrology and geochemistry, karst resource management, and global climate dynamics. Dr. Polk is passionate about the integration of human-environmental research and community development through applied research. He has technical expertise in hydrologic monitoring, water quality and quantity assessments, groundwater resource management, and solution-based approaches to climate resilience and adaption planning for communities. Dr. Polk conducts research throughout the world, including the Caribbean, Vietnam, Iceland, and Europe and has worked in the longest, largest, and deepest caves in the world. Dr. Polk is co-Director of the North Atlantic Climate Change Collaboration Project (NAC3), Member Representative for the UArctic Council, founder of the UnderBGKY real-time monitoring and continuous data network for public outreach and education, and serves on the Advisory Board of the internationally renowned The $100 Solution™ non-profit service learning organization and served as a reviewer for the IPCC AR6.

Email: jason.polk@wku.edu

Research Interests: Water resources, climate dynamics, karst groundwater, hazard mitigation, human-environment interactions

Collaborative Interests: department seminars, graduate committees, grant collaborations, guest lectures, public lectures, publications, research collaborations