Hydrogeologist J. Martins Carvalho: professional, professor and gentleman

Hydrogeologist EurGeol José Martins Carvalho (BSc, PhD, DSc) gave his last lecture at the School of Engineering of Polytechnic of Porto in January 2014, bringing to a formal close an outstanding career in multidisciplinary hydrogeology teaching and practice (in Europe, Africa, Middle-East, Asia, South America) and in applied research. Nowadays, he is Emeritus Professor of the Polytechnic of Porto and Consultant Hydrogeologist. He has had a career spanning 50 years in military hydrogeology, exploration hydrogeology, environmental hydrogeology, groundwater engineering, hydrogeotechnics, urban water supply, water resources management and geothermics. This brief note aims to present the key milestones in his multifaceted professional career, acting as a geologist, a professor and a researcher of groundwater science. The essence of his long career over the last five decades was to promote the practice, teaching and research of hydrogeology to solve social problems and challenges via an environmental, sustainable and ethical approach. In his own words: “Water is a unique resource: a drop can save a life, in war and peace”.