The
Karst Waters Institute is a nonprofit institution whose
mission is to improve the fundamental understanding of karst
water systems through sound scientific research and the
education of professionals and the public. The result will
be increased knowledge of the need for as well as the more
effective management of this vital water
resource.
GOAL:
Advance scientific knowledge
by fostering interdisciplinary state-of-the-art karst
research to ensure a valid and reliable basis for
information provided to both the public and private sectors
and the scientific community, 
Objectives
under this goal:
- Develop a national karst
library and data base that will provide accessibility to
karst information.
- Establish a program of
resident and visiting scientists to stimulate
collaborative research.
- Develop or identify
appropriate techniques and methods for karst research,
based on studies of sufficient scale and duration, to
advance our understanding of this vital
resource.
GOAL:
Increase awareness and
appreciation of karst water resources and their
vulnerability through the education of both scientific
professionals and the public. Objective under this
goal:
- Publish the research of
karst scientists in respected journals.
- Present research
findings and the need for protection of karst resources
through appropriate media channels for the
public.
- Sponsor national and
international conferences and symposia.
GOAL:
Identify and solve
environmental and land-use risks to karst regions, including
pollution of karst aquifers, flooding problems, and
land-collapse and subsidence. Objectives under this
goal:
- Cooperate with the
public and private sectors on the prevention and solution
of karst problems.
- Stimulate cooperative
graduate education with degree-granting institutions to
ensure an adequate supply of karst scientists for the
future.
