Many hydrogeologists in developing countries would like to be members and would benefit from membership but they are prevented by the high level of the subscriptions in relation to local salaries or by problems of access to convertible currency. This problem persists even though IAH has a reduced fee for "lower income" countries. IAH operates a scheme whereby members in higher income countries can sponsor a professional colleague in a developing country

One objective of the International Association of Hydrogeologists is to promote international cooperation among groundwater scientists and engineers, to promote the science of hydrogeology worldwide and to facilitate the international exchange of information on groundwater. To help achieve this objective we need to increase our membership in less developed nations.

You can help IAH meet its goal by supporting our Sponsored Membership Scheme.

Participating IAH members volunteer to pay an additional Euro 34 (lower rate subscription) in addition to their normal subscription of Euro 72 (a total of Euro 106), for a nominal five year minimum period. Join the scheme and you will be ensuring that a fellow groundwater scientist in a less developed nation can have the full benefits of IAH membership.

The scheme is entirely voluntary. However if you believe that encouraging professionalism in groundwater science can make a positive contribution to rational, efficient and sustainable development of the world's water resources, please support the scheme and help extend the work of IAH.

Already over 140 hydrogeologists around the world are being sponsored by individual IAH members or National Committees.

You may participate in confidence that your name will not be made known to the sponsored member without your agreement. Alternatively the IAH Secretariat will be pleased to put you in touch with your sponsored member, so that the value of the scheme can be increased by bilateral professional contact.

You may either nominate a particular hydrogeologist already known to you or the IAH Secretariat will identify a person for you to sponsor. Names of persons meriting sponsorship will be drawn up from recommendations of National Committees and individual members, from international agencies and from the IAH Burdon Commission for Developing Nations.

If wish to participate in the sponsored member scheme please contact IAH and we will send you details or download the application form and return it to the IAH International Office.