Dr. Carol Hanley has worked as a science educator for 35 years. She taught high school biology and chemistry, worked at the Kentucky Department of Education, and has been at the University of Kentucky (UK) since 2001. She travels to India and Nepal each year to teach science to teachers and students.

Dr. Rebecca Freeman grew up on a farm in western Kentucky, collecting rocks, playing in the creek, and going on family excursions to Land Between the Lakes located in her area of the state. After many years elsewhere, she returned to Kentucky to teach at the University of Kentucky. She cares deeply about the future of Kentucky and her fellow Kentuckians, and is excited to learn more about east India and its future.

Alan Fryar grew up in north Florida as the son of science teachers. He swam in springs and decided on hydrogeology as a career during a high-school summer research program at the University of Florida. He has taught at the University of Kentucky since 1995 and loves the opportunity to travel and share information about water.

Ms. Amanda Sherman is a born and raised Army Brat, who grew-up living in Europe and Asia. Currently, she lives in Kentucky with her wonderful husband, Jason, and their two cats, Mia & Ferrous. She is a graduate student at the University of Kentucky pursuing a degree in Geology (MS) and Chemistry (BA). Previously, she earned a Bachelor's in German and Marine Science from Eckerd College, taught high school science, worked as an environmental consultant, and was a biological/physical scientist for the U.S. Army. Amanda is excited to be part of this project and cannot wait to learn more about Water in India and Kentucky!

Esther Edwards has been working in administrative positions at UK for 38 years and in science outreach for seven of them. She knows everyone at UK and how to solve every problem. She has worked with most school districts across the state on payroll, transportation, field trip and equipment issues. We are lucky to have Esther on our team because it means that everything will go smoothly.

Jason Hope is with the University of Kentucky International Center and is the Director International Health, Safety and Security. For Parents with children traveling to India, please feel free to contact him with any questions that you may have regarding travel insurance. Jason has also provided the following informational link: http://international.uky.edu/ihss

Nature and music have been my inspiration and succor since I was a child. Growing up in Kolkata, my passion for nature conservation started in high school as a member of the nature club. I volunteered with World Wildlife Fund’s nature club movement for a number of years. After working in a child sponsorship agency for eight years I founded the Association for Social and Environmental Development (ASED) in 2001, a not for profit company whose primary mandate is to work with youth and nature conservation. I love to visit forest areas with my naturalist husband, Kushal, and do my vocal music, both Hindustani classical and western folk and pop.

Abhijit is a city boy, growing up in crowded southern parts of Kolkata in India at the bank of the old channel of the Ganges River. He went to schools in Kolkata learning geology and computers, before he traveled to University of Kentucky to learn about hydrogeology from Alan Fryar. Subsequently, Alan and Abhijit had a lot of fun wading in the muddy waters of creeks in western Kentucky to paddy fields and groundwater wells of India. After spending quite a while in US and Canada, Abhijit returned back to his home state of West Bengal, and now he teaches the science of water to students ranging from beginners to researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology at Kharagpur. Abhijit travels extensively, exploring water and antiquity.

Dr. Ashok Ghosh was born in a remote village of India by candle light, as there was no electricity at his birthplace. He grew up in Patna, State capital of Bihar (India), where his father was serving as a government employee. After Dr. Ghosh completed his studies, he joined teaching and research as his profession. He has traveled almost all major destinations of world, including many cities in the USA. Currently he is working as a Professor and Head of Department, Research at Mahavir Cancer Institute and Research Centre, Patna, India. Dr. Ghosh is always eager to know about different cultures and ready to contribute his knowledge for the welfare of society.

Aarti Iyer is a Political Science graduate from the University of Hyderabad, and enjoys applying perspectives from the Social Sciences to understand the Environment. She joined ASED as the Program Officer to fuel her passion for both environment and education. She reads a lot, and loves interacting with students to share ideas.