GEOSCIENCE AT THE HEART OF THE NEW KOSOVO

Kosovo, the newest nation on earth is a tiny spot (only 11,000 km2 ) of geological diversity at the junction of tectonic terranes and political-cultural traditions. Post-war independence has opened the area to massive efforts of economic development. Unfortunately, the rush to "help" the land and its residents has injected billions of dollars and Euros from big global interests (the UN, EU, USAID, World Bank, etc.) accompanied by tremendous crimes of greed, but without significant improvements to infrastructure and environment.

Although small, Kosovo possesses impressive wealth of natural resources; watersheds draining surrounding mountains, forested highlands, industrial mineral and ore deposits, and some tracts of significant ecological value that survived former communist and Serbian regimes. Unemployment in Kosovo approaches 75% and virtually all water-supply systems are badly tainted by an array of contaminants. The need for developmental assistance from the outside is obvious.

As of winter, 2008 there exists a great opportunity for rightly-motivated expertise to partner with organizations and communities in effective development projects. Educational institutions and NGOs (non-government organizations) can provide technical services, especially in training Kosovars to plan and conduct their work for the benefit of the masses and the environment. One evolving partnership combines Wheaton College Geology in Illinois and the Water-For-Life NGO with villagers from Tushile in central Kosovo. The project plan for Tushile may become a model for further work employing undergraduate geology majors as apprentice practitioners and ultimately trainers. Stages of cooperation begin with:

a) formation of a local committee responsible for providing labor, trainees and affordable finances (outside donors cover other expenses); b) basic data collection, site research includes GIS/GPS mapping of all pertinent variables (in this case involving soil and rock classifications, household water-sources, sanitation facilities, slope aspect, spring locations, vegetation types, stream flow, and water quality perameters); c) planning actual work for improvements.

Outreach service by geologists offers real opportunities to be positive agents of change in a complex world. Kosovo represents only one venue.