It's not often that graduate students can say that their research is making an immediate difference in the world. But Melanie Krautstrunk can make that claim.
Krautstrunk is studying hydrogeology and spent most of the last year in northern Ghana as a Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholar for her master's thesis. She is trying to predict if the area will receive enough rainfall to replenish the local aquifer. Her research can be applied to sustainability studies in northern Ghana as expanding agriculture and population growth places greater demands on the water table.
"I was -- and am -- excited about Melanie's research," said Dave Kreamer, a UNLV geoscience professor and Krautstrunk's faculty advisor. "Many graduate students choose research that may or may not have the potential to help humankind. Melanie's research definitely has that potential."
The sustainability of the aquifer is crucial to the people who live in Ghana, and knowing how much water is available is a critical factor in managing their resources effectively, Krautstrunk said. Little is known about the hydrological modeling and sustainability of the area so the data Krautstrunk collected will be useful for anyone interested in this region in the future.
Krautstrunk has been to Africa before and said that she is always amazed by the endless feats of imagination by the locals. One day she was taking samples at a well when she saw two men trying to load a cow on the back of a motorcycle. It was market day, and they had to transport the cow 60 kilometers away. She was sure their efforts were for naught, but somehow they tied the cow to the bike rack on the back of the motorcycle. The back tire was stressed and looked impossible to use for travel. They got off to a wobbly start, but were off down the dirt road.
"Seeing these types of things motivated me to choose a career in international development," said Krautstrunk. "It's great to think of what people can do with an education and resources when you see what those are getting done with little of either."
Collecting Data
To complete her thesis, Krautstrunk sold her car in the states and bought an old Land Rover in Ghana to drive through the bush and collect samples. She worked closely with World Vision. She was given access to the wells it builds in needy communities as well as to data it has collected through many years of service in northern Ghana.
When Kreamer visited Krautstrunk in April, it was very hot (like Las Vegas but with no air conditioning). It had rained only once in the previous five months, and that was 47 days before he arrived. In addition to collecting data at the wells, Krautstrunk's research required measuring rainfall and sampling surface water.
"The first night I arrived, the sky opened up and Melanie and I were out sampling at midnight, getting absolutely soaked to the skin, and loving the experience (and the much needed rain and data collection)," Kreamer said.
For Ghanians without access to a well, the day is often spent walking long distances to the river. This is the single most important factor in whether or not children are educated, Krautstrunk said.
Krautstrunk's work was a perfect fit for her future interests, which include international development in the field of water resource management in developing nations. She did more than just research. While living in Tamale in northern Ghana, Krautstrunk helped a family-run goat farm expand. The farm is producing goat cheese and will be the only supplier for the market in Tamale.
"I loved everything I did while in Ghana. I loved going out into the bush to collect samples, having to manage the challenges associated with doing research in an area with little known data, complicated further by limited government resources. Also knowing that there is some value in the work that I am doing makes it even more rewarding," said Krautstrunk, who was newly married before going. Her husband took a leave from work to be her field assistant.
Krautstrunk will present her research findings to World Vision, to the Ghana Water Resource Commission, and to Rotary Clubs in Accra and in the U.S. She also will make all her data available to them once she has completed her degree.
