Yanxin WANG is a professor of Hydrogeology and Environmental Engineering at China University of Geosciences (CUG), an academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences and IAGC Fellow. He obtained BSc in Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology from Nanjing University in 1984 and PhD in Hydrogeology from CUG in 1990. He spent one year at University of Waterloo as a visiting professor in 1998-1999.

He and his group have made substantial efforts in studying mechanisms of groundwater contamination and developing cost-effective technologies of site remediation, to provide theoretical and technological support for safe supply of drinking water. They have been actively engaged in international collaborations and successfully integrated inter-disciplinary approaches of hydrogeochemistry, groundwater hydraulics, sedimentology, geostatistics, isotope geochemistry, ecohydrology and geomicrobiology, to better understand the processes and factors controlling mobilization/immobilization of geogenic As, F, and I in aquifer systems. Their case study areas include Datong Basin, Hetao basin and North China Plain and central Yangtze River Basin. Since 1990, he and his multi-disciplinary international research group has been studying the hydrogeochemistry of geothermal fluids across China and in the Baikal Rift Zone of Russia and has found, for the first time, high temperature (up to 160 ^oC, at Tianzhen, Shanxi province) geothermal resource at depth shallower than 2000 m in the eastern part of China.He was the recipient of John Hem Award of National Ground Water Association of USA, Applied Hydrogeology Award of IAH, and Vernadsky Medal of IAGC. He is a member of the editorial committee of Annual Review of Environment and Resources and National Science Review, and the chief editor of Journal of Earth Science.

Chair Professor of Hydrogeology and Environmental Engineering, School of Environmental Studies & State Key Laboratory of Geomicrobiology and Environmental Changes, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, P. R. China

Education

1980-1984    BSc in Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology, Nanjing University, China

1984-1987    MSc in Hydrogeology, China University of Geosciences

1987-1990    PhD in Hydrogeology, China University of Geosciences

Professional career

1990-1992    Assistant Professor of Hydrogeology, China University of Geosciences

1992-1994    Associate Professor of Hydrogeology, China University of Geosciences

Since 1994    Professor of Hydrogeology, China University of Geosciences

1998-1999    Visiting Professor, University of Waterloo

2000-2010    Vice President of China University of Geosciences at Wuhan

2011-2024     President of China University of Geosciences at Wuhan

Since 2002   Vice Chairman of National Chapter of IAH (International Association of Hydrogeology)

Since 2007   Member of the Water-Rock Interaction Working Group of IAGC (International Association of Geochemistry)

Since 2016   Vice Chairman of the Environmental Science Society of China

Since 2016   Co-Chair of the Ireland-China Concord of the International Association of Medical Geology

Since 2017   Executive Council Member of the Geological Society of China

Since 2019   Member of National Expert Committee on Ecological Environmental Protection of China

Honors and awards

2001    Award of Excellent Young Teachers in Universities and Colleges, Ministry of Education, P. R. China

2009    First Class Award for Natural Science Studies, Hubei Provincial Government

2014    First Class Award for Scientific and Technological Advancement, Hubei Provincial Government

2016    Nationwide Eminent Scientists Award, National Association of Science and Technology of China

2019    First Class Award for Natural Science Studies, Ministry of Education, P. R. China

2019    Applied Hydrogeology Award of IAH

2019    John Hem Award of NGWA

2021    IAGC  Fellow

2023    Doctor of Science honoris causa, University of Waterloo

2025    Vernadsky Medal of IAGC

Major research areas

Hydrogeochemistry: Groundwater Quality and Safe Water Supply

Groundwater Contamination and Remediation

Karst Hydrogeology

Deep Geothermal Energy: Genesis, Exploration and Storage

Important research projects

1999-2002    NSFC* Key Project: Intrinsic remediation and vulnerability of groundwater systems. PI.

2005-2008    NSFC Fund for Nationwide Outstanding Young Scholars. PI.

2009-2012    NSFC Key Project: Contaminant transport and intrinsic remediation in hyporheic zones. PI.

2012-2016    NSFC Key International Collaboration Project: Environmental Biogeochemistry of Arsenic from Geothermal Systems. PI.

2008-2012    MOST** International Collaboration Project: Groundwater Resource Exploitation and Arsenic Removal Technologies  in Arseniasis-affected Areas of India. PI.

2012-2014    MOST High-tech Development Project: Pilot Tests of Novel Remediation Technologies of Geogenic High Arsenic Groundwater. PI.

2016-2021    NSFC Fund for Innovative Research Groups: Environmental Hydrogeology. PI.

2021-2025    NSFC Key International Collaboration Project: Hydro-biogeochemistry of Geogenic High Iodine Aquifer Systems in Coastal Regions. PI.

2021-2026    MOST National Key Scientific Research Project: Theoretical and Technological Research on Geogenic Groundwater Contamination In-situ Remediation. PI.

*NSFC: National Natural Science Foundation of China.

**MOST: Ministry of Science and Technology of China.

Roles at international conferences

2004    UNESCO International Conference on Groundwater Vulnerability Assessment, Poland (Invited  keynote)

2006    The Seventh International Conference on Environmental Geochemistry, China (Invited plenary keynote)

2006    IAH Congress Beijing, China (Invited plenary keynote)

2007     The 12^th International Symposium on Water-Rock Interaction, Kunming, China (Secretary General)

2009    The 7^th International IAHS Conference on Groundwater ModelCare, Wuhan, China (Organizing Committee Chairman) 

2009    International Conference on Endemic Disease and Geo-environment, China (Invited plenary keynote)

2010    The Seventh International Symposium on Groundwater Quality, Switzerland (Invited plenary keynote)

2012    The Thirty-fourth International Geological Congress, Australia (Invited keynote)

2016    The Ninth International Symposium on Groundwater Quality, China (Invited plenary keynote)

2016    The Fifteenth International Symposium on Water-Rock Interaction, Portugal (Invited plenary keynote)

2017    The Eleventh International Symposium on Geochemistry of the Earth’s Surface, China (Invited plenary keynote)

2017    The Seventh International Symposium on Medical Geology, Russia (Invited plenary keynote)

2018    The Seventh International Arsenic Congress, China (Invited plenary keynote)

2018    The Tenth Rosenberg International Forum on Water Policy, USA (Invited plenary keynote)

2021    The International Conference on Healthy Human Settlements and Future Cities, China (Invited plenary keynote)

2022    The 49^th International Association of Hydrogeologists（IAH)Congress, China (Organizing Committee Chairman)  

2024    Joint Conference of ISEH  ICEPH & ISEG on Environment and Health (Invited plenary keynote), Ireland

Selected publications in international peer-reviewed journals

1. Wang, Y.X.*, Yuan, S.H., Shi, J.B., Ma, T., Xie, X.J., Deng, Y.M., Du, Y., Gan, Y.Q., Guo, Z.L., Dong, Y.R., Zheng, C.M., Jiang, G.B. 2023. Groundwater quality and health: making the invisible visible. Environmental Science& Technology, 57(13): 5125-5136.

2. Dong, Y.R., Jiang, Z., Hu, Y.D., Jiang, Y.G., Tong, L., Yu,Y., Cheng, J.M., He, Y., Shi, J.B., Wang, Y.X.* 2023. Pathogen contamination of groundwater systems and health risks. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 54(4):267-289.

3. Pi, K.F., Van Cappellen, P., Tong, L., Gan, Y.Q., Wang. Y.X.* 2023. Loss of Selenium from Mollisol Paddy Wetlands of Cold Regions: Insights from Flow-through Reactor Experiments and Process-Based Modeling. Environmental Science & Technology, 57(15): 6228-6237.

4. Du. Y., Deng, Y.M., Li, Y.P., Huang, Y.W., Liu, Z.H., Ma, T., Wang, Y.X.* 2023. Paleo-Geomorphology Determines Spatial Variability of Geogenic Ammonium Concentration in Quaternary Aquifers. Environmental Science & Technology, 57(14): 5726-5738.

5. Pi, K.F., Van Cappellen, P., Gan, Y.Q., Zhong, X.L., Tong, L., Chen, W.T., Wang, X. and Wang, Y.* 2023. Fluvial Deposition and Land Use Change Control Selenium Occurrence in Mollisols of Cold Region Agroecosystems. Environmental Science & Technology, 57(1), 751-760.

6. Wang, Y.X.*, Li, J.X., Ma, T., Xie, X.J., Deng, Y.M., Gan, Y.Q., 2021. Genesis of geogenic contaminated groundwater: As, F and I. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 51(24): 2895-2933.

7. Pi, K.F., Xie, X.J., Ma, T., Su, C.L., Li, J.X., Wang, Y.X.*, 2020. Arsenic immobilization by in-situ iron coating for managed aquifer rehabilitation. Water Research, 181: 115859.

8. Wang, Y.X.*, Pi, K.F., Fendorf, S., Deng, Y.M., Xie, X.J., 2019. Sedimentogenesis and hydrobiogeochemistry of high arsenic Late Pleistocene-Holocene aquifer systems. Earth-Science Reviews, 182, 79-98.

9. Xue X.B, Li, J.X., Xie, X.J., Qian, K., Wang, Y.X.*. 2019. Impacts of sediment compaction on iodine enrichment in deep aquifers of the North China Plain. Water Research, 159, 480-489.

10. Wang, Y.X.*, Zheng, C.M., Ma, R., 2018. Safe and sustainable groundwater supply in China. Hydrogeology Journal, 26, 1301-1324.

11. Wang, Y.X.*, Li, P., Guo, Q.H., Jiang, Z., Liu, M.L., 2018. Environmental biogeochemistry of high arsenic geothermal fluids, Applied Geochemistry, 97, 81-92.

12. Li, J.X., DePaolo, D. J., Wang, Y.X.*, Xie, X.J. 2018. Calcium isotope fractionation in a silicate dominated Cenozoic aquifer system, Journal of Hydrology, 559, 523–533.

13. Pi, K.F., Wang, Y.X.*, Xie, X.J., et al., 2017. Remediation of arsenic-contaminated groundwater by in-situ stimulating biogenic precipitation of iron sulfides. Water Research, 109, 337-346.

14. Li, J.X., Wang, Y.X.*, Xie, X.J., DePaolo, D.J., 2016. Effects of water-sediment interaction and irrigation practices on iodine enrichment in shallow groundwater. Journal of Hydrology, 543, 293-304.

15. Yang, Y.J., Deng, Y.M., Wang, Y.X.*. 2016. Major geogenic factors controlling geographical clustering of urolithiasis in China. Science of Total Environment, 571,1164-1171.

16. Xie, X.J., Wang, Y.X.*, Li, J.X., Yu, Q., Wu, Y., Su, C.L., Duan, M.Y. 2015. Effect of irrigation on Fe(III)-SO₄^2- redox cycling and arsenic mobilization in shallow groundwater from the Datong basin, China: Evidence from hydrochemical monitoring and modeling, Journal of Hydrology, 523, 128-138.

17. Wang, Y.X.*, Xie, X.J., Johnson, T.M., Lundstrom, C.C., et al., 2014. Coupled iron, sulfur and carbon isotope evidences for arsenic enrichment in groundwater. Journal of Hydrology, 519, 414-422.

18. Xie, X.J., Wang, Y.X.*, Ellis, A., Liu, C.X., Duan, M.Y., Li, J.X. 2014. Impact of sedimentary provenance and weathering on arsenic distribution in aquifers of the Datong basin, China: Constraints from elemental geochemistry, Journal of Hydrology, 519, 3541-3549.

19. Xie, X.J., Wang, Y.X.*, Su, C.L., Li, J.X., Li, M.D., 2012. Influence of irrigation practices on arsenic mobilization: Evidence from isotope composition and Cl/Br ratios in groundwater from Datong Basin, northern China. Journal of Hydrology, 424, 37-47.

20. Wang, Y.X.*, Shvartsev, S.L., Su, C.L., 2009. Genesis of arsenic/fluoride-enriched soda water: a case study at Datong, northern China. Applied Geochemistry, 24(4), 641-649.

21. Wang, Y.X.*, Guo, Q.H., Su, C.L., Ma, T. 2006. Strontium isotope characterization and major ion geochemistry of karst water flow, Shentou, northern China. Journal of Hydrology, 328(3-4SI), 592-603.

22. Ma, T., Wang, Y.X.*, Guo, Q.H., 2004, Response of carbonate aquifer to climate change in northern China: A case study at the Shentou karst springs. Journal of Hydrology, 297(1-4), 274-284.

23. Wang, Y.X.*, Ma, T., Luo, Z., 2001. Geostatistical and geochemical analysis of surface water leakage into groundwater on a regional scale: a case study in the Liulin karst system, northwestern China. Journal of Hydrology, 246(1), 223-234.

24. Wang, Y.X., Reardon, E.J., 2001. Activation and regeneration of a soil sorbent for defluoridation of drinking water. Applied Geochemistry, 16(5), 531-539.

25. Reardon, E.J., Wang, Y.X., 2000. A limestone reactor for fluoride removal from wastewaters. Environmental Science & Technology, 34(15), 3247-3253.

26. Wang, Y.X., Shpeyzer, G. M. 1997. Genesis of thermal groundwaters from Siping'an district, China. Applied Geochemistry, 12(4)), 437-445.

Selected Books and Conference Proceedings

1. Yanxin Wang  (chief editor and author), Groundwater Contamination, Remediation and Prevention, Beijing: Higher Education Press, 2007 (University textbook in Chinese).

2. Yanxin Wang and Yamin Deng, Environmental geochemistry of high arsenic aquifer systems. Chapter 5 in: Heavy metals in the environment (eds. Lawrence K. Wang, J. Paul Chen, Yung-Tse Hung and Nazih K. Shammas), CRC Press (Taylor and Francis Group), 2009, p.123-154，Boca Raton, Florida, USA.

3. Yanxin Wang, Shemin Ge, Mary C. Hill, Chunmiao Zheng (eds). Calibration and reliability in groundwater modeling: Managing groundwater and the environment. IAHS Publication 341, IAHS Press, 2011, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, UK.

4. T. D. Bullen & Yanxin Wang (eds), Proceedings of 12^th International Symposium on Water-Rock Interaction (2 volumes), 2007, Taylor Francis.

5. Yanxin Wang.  Geogenic Arsenic Contaminated Groundwater [in Chinese]. Beijing, Science Press, 2019.