Baltimore hosts Earth Scientists, 1-4 November 2015

Boulder, Colo. -- Registration is open for The Geological Society of America's Annual Meeting and Exposition, to be held 1 to 4 November 2015 at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, USA. Geoscientists from around the world, representing 37 disciplines, will present new findings that enlarge the body of geoscience knowledge and define directions for future study.

Members of the media are cordially invited to attend and cover science presented at the meeting. Review media eligibility requirements: http://community.geosociety.org/gsa2014/press/mediareg Request media registration: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1kX5kEdF1FXCsCYbGWZ-VJupvB9-2YJcpKAo1ma-teTI/viewform?c=0&w=1

Meeting Highlights

2015 marks the bicentennial anniversary of the William Smith Map, which BBC science correspondent Jonathan Amos termed 'one of the most significant maps in the history of science.' Activities are planned to honor this anniversary, including one of five Pardee Keynote Symposia featuring noted authority on William Smith, Hugh Torrens (http://community.geosociety.org/gsa2015/science-careers/sessions/pardee/featuredspeakers).

In other Pardee Keynote Symposia (http://community.geosociety.org/gsa2015/science-careers/sessions/pardee), a panel featuring James Balog, Richard Alley, and Lonnie Thompson will examine the retreat of Earth's glaciers; an interdisciplinary assemblage of scientists will showcase high-impact research on the rise of animals across the Precambrian-Cambrian transition; geologists and policy makers from several states will offer insights into how similar information about hydraulic fracturing is yielding differing approaches to policy; and geomorphic processes will be viewed through the lens of the Appalachian landscape.

There are currently 219 topical sessions submitted (http://www.geosociety.org/meetings/2015/sessions/topical.asp), as well as a special session on the recent Nepal earthquakes (http://community.geosociety.org/gsa2015/science-careers/sessions/special).

In addition, GSA is honored to be hosting the Geological Society of China as part of the 'Bridging Two Continents: (http://www.geosociety.org/meetings/15china/) meeting being held within the GSA Annual Meeting. This event is a continuation of a joint specialty meeting that was held in Chengdu, China, in June 2013. Dr. James Hansen, renowned climate scientist at Columbia University in New York City, will speak at this meeting during a ticketed luncheon on Monday that is open to all GSA attendees. Details will be announced.

Numerous field trips, short courses, and special events round out the meeting.

'It has been nearly 100 years since GSA has been in Baltimore for an Annual Meeting,' said meeting general chair David Vanko, of Towson University, 'and we welcome our colleagues to our vibrant city.'

'Baltimore is also known as Charm City and the Convention Center is located a few blocks off of the beautiful Inner Harbor -- surrounded by hotels, restaurants, museums, the National Aquarium, Camden Yards, and much more.'

Watch a short interview with GSA Meeting Chair David Vanko and Field Trip Chair Richard Ortt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuNFJoi8QWg

Complete meeting information will be updated regularly on the annual meeting website. Information is also available in the June issue of GSA Today (http://www.geosociety.org/gsatoday/archive/25/6/).

Oral Sessions run Sun.-Wed., 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. at the Baltimore Convention Center, One West Pratt Street, Baltimore. 'Feed Your Brain' lunchtime lectures are scheduled each day from noon to 1:30 p.m.

Poster Sessions will be on display 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. on Sun. with authors present from 3:30-5:30 p.m. and 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. on Mon.-Wed. with authors present between 4:30-6:30 p.m. during the beer receptions in the poster hall.

Technical Program Search topical sessions (http://www.geosociety.org/meetings/2015/sessions/topical.asp) for areas of interest by discipline categories or sponsors from the drop-down menus, or use your browser's 'find' feature to search for keywords or convener names. New this year: Sessions that are especially relevant for applied geoscientists are searchable by industry track and marked with icons that identify sessions in Energy, Economic Geology, Hydrogeology & Environmental Geology, and Engineering Geology.

The complete technical program schedule will be available in early September 2015 after the abstract submission deadline.

Pre- and post-meeting field trips are a unique feature of GSA meetings (http://community.geosociety.org/gsa2015/science-careers/fieldtrips): One-day or multi-day expeditions take participants into the field to explore areas of geologic interest. Members of the media must register and pay appropriate fees to participate. Contact Christa Stratton at the address below for more information or assistance with media registration.

Helpful travel links

International travel -- http://community.geosociety.org/gsa2015/attendeeinfo/travel
About Baltimore -- http://baltimore.org/gsa
Lodging -- http://community.geosociety.org/gsa2015/attendeeinfo/reservations
http://www.geosociety.org

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The Geological Society of America, founded in 1888, is a scientific society with more than 25,000 members from academia, government, and industry in more than 100 countries. Through its meetings, publications, and programs, GSA enhances the professional growth of its members and promotes the geosciences in the service of humankind. Headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, GSA encourages cooperative research among earth, life, planetary, and social scientists, fosters public dialogue on geoscience issues, and supports all levels of earth science education.

Contact:

Christa Stratton
cstratton@geosociety.org
1-303-357-1093