Jean M. Bahr

Jean Marie Bahr is a hydrogeologist who examines how the physical and chemical composition of groundwater and how that controls the mass transportation of groundwater. She currently is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Wisconsin Madison in the department of geosciences.

Early life and education Bahr grew up in California and is the daughter of Rudolph R. Bahr and Jane W. Bahr. Her interest in environmental issues peaked in high school where she attended a fair on Earth Day in 1970 at Stanford University.

Bahr earned her Bachelor of Arts in Geology and Geophysics from Yale in 1976. She obtained her Master of Science from Stanford in Applied Earth Sciences (Hydrogeology) in 1985 and earned her Doctor of Philosophy from Stanford in Applied Earth Sciences (Hydrogeology) in 1987.

Career

After earning her Bachelor of Arts from Yale, Bahr served in a geotechnical firm and worked on hydrogeology projects. She worked in Mali, in Western Africa for two years. After her four-year career in this firm, she realized her passion for hydrology and then went to pursue a graduate degree in the field of hydrogeology. Bahr has been involved in many aspects of the university, from being the Department Chair of Geosciences from 2005 to 2008, to participating in programs at the University of Wisconsin Madison including the Geological Engineering Program and the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies. President of the Geological Society of America (GSA) 2009-2010