KARST, SCIENCE, AND LIFE: LESSONS FROM DR. NICK CRAWFORD

I began graduate studies in January 1983, ready to learn how to become a paid cave explorer. But when I met my advisor, Dr. Nick Crawford, he dashed those dreams. No one made a career of exploring caves, he taught me. Careers were built on the values learned from caves. Consequently, he gave me the tools to become a cave and karst scientist, and the inspiration and confidence to build an influential career in that field. He certainly taught me about dye tracing, geophysics, karst hydrology, and preventing and remediating environmental problems in karst. The more valuable lessons, which I still use almost daily, involve personal and professional integrity, carefully designing your research, its analyses, and conclusions, prioritizing your battles for overall victory even when in some cases not every cave or karst feature can be saved, building friendships and partnerships for success, and maintaining a good sense of humor to get you through the frustrations that will inevitably plague you.