George Aiken joined the U.S. Geological Survey in March 1976 with the Central Region of the National Research Program (NRP) in Denver, Colorado. Before joining USGS, George earned a B.A. degree in Chemistry from Rutgers University. From 1976 to 1979, George worked with NRP’s Organic Hydrogeochemistry Project, and it was then that he first encountered what would become the focus of his 40-year research career: unraveling the complexities of the importance of natural organic matter on controlling aqueous biogeochemistry of groundwater and surface water. Early in his research career with USGS, George focused on the design of new chromatographic techniques for isolating humic substances from natural waters, the movement of organic solutes in groundwater, and the effects of humic substances on water purification systems. Also during this time, George completed a M.S. in Analytical Chemistry at the University of Colorado. In 1980 George returned to the east coast for two years, serving as a Research Assistant in the Dartmouth College Biology Department where he studied the effects of acid rain on soil solution chemistry in the Adirondacks of upstate New York. However, George’s love for the Rocky Mountains caused him to return to the USGS NRP central region in 1981, where he stayed for the remainder of his career.
During the early 1980’s, George spent considerable time traveling great distances in a mobile water quality lab studying seasonal and geographical differences in aquatic dissolved organic carbon (DOC) across the United States. It was during this time that he also garnered an encyclopedic understanding of the streams, watersheds and landscapes of the coterminous United States. For those fortunate to have a chance discussion with George, he called upon those experiences to help others understand the factors controlling surface water quality across the US. George also took several tours to Antarctica, where he studied DOC in lakes and streams, one of which bears his name. Typical of his dedication and love of his work, George over-wintered twice in Antarctica to ensure he would be able to study the full range of conditions in most harsh environment on the planet. In 1991, he achieved a lifetime goal by completing the requirements for at Ph.D. in Applied Chemistry (Minor in Geologic Engineering) from the Colorado School of Mines.
His interests range widely in both spatial and topical emphasis: from understanding the implications of thawing permafrost on DOC transport in the Yukon Basin, to the importance of DOC on regulating the availability of mercury for methylation and bioaccumulation in the aquatic food web of the Florida Everglades –and many avenues between and beyond. In addition to an accomplished research career, George served the USGS in many capacities throughout his career. Among them, he helped initiate the USGS Drinking Water Initiative, actively advised and worked with the NAWQA, NASQAN, Toxics and WEBB programs, facilitated such diverse projects as the Yukon River Basin Initiative and the Sacramento River/San Francisco Bay Delta Carbon Studies, and served on an advisory basis to large-scale restoration efforts in the Florida Everglades and in California’s Bay-Delta. He was constantly asked by outside groups to come speak on his favorite topic (DOC!), where he would capture his audience with great science, well-timed humor, but always a strong voice of appreciation for the opportunities offered by a career at USGS. His investigations are of such relevance that they lead to the formation of the International Humic Substances Society, and George has played an integral role in making standard and reference DOM isolates available world-wide.
George advised over 20 graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, served on numerous thesis committees, served as an editor of peer reviewed journals, and has been mentor to many young scientists as well as those new to the mysteries of DOC. During his distinguished career, George has published 148 peer-reviewed journal articles which have been cited 11,256 times (and counting), resulting in a h-index of 56.
The outstanding quality of his work and collaborations has earned him the continuous respect of his colleagues and the Department’s Meritorious Service Award in 2002, reflecting his dedication to the goals of the USGS and the Department of the Interior. He has consistently put scientific integrity and the good of his employees, the NRP, and the USGS above his career gains.
George will continue this next phase as a Scientist Emeritus for the USGS National Research Program, but is taking some much-needed time with his family right now. He will be away from normal lines of communication for a while. All messages and well-wishes may be routed to Kenna Butler at kebutler@usgs.gov, and she will deliver them to him.