Technical Program > Topical Sessions

Topical Sessions

Invited and Volunteered Papers

These sessions are topically focused with a mix of invited and volunteered papers. Sessions are designed to promote the exchange of interdisciplinary, state-of-the-art information.

Papers for topical sessions were submitted only in the presentation mode noted in the session description. If a topical abstract was submitted in the incorrect mode, the abstract was transferred automatically to a discipline session.

Sessions sponsored by: GSA Geology and Society Division

T3. The Hydrogeological Effects of Urbanization
GSA Hydrogeology Division; GSA Engineering Geology Division; GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division; GSA Geology and Society Division; U.S. National Chapter of the International Assoc. of Hydrogeologists
John M. Sharp, Barry J. Hibbs

This session examines how urbanization affects groundwater systems, including recharge rates, flow patterns, stream and spring flows, water quality, climatic effects, geotechnical design, and urban planning.

Hydrogeology; Engineering Geology; Environmental Geoscience

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T3. Part II
GSA Hydrogeology Division; GSA Engineering Geology Division; GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division; GSA Geology and Society Division; U.S. National Chapter of the International Assoc. of Hydrogeologists

Hydrogeology; Engineering Geology; Environmental Geoscience

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T3. Posters
GSA Hydrogeology Division; GSA Engineering Geology Division; GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division; GSA Geology and Society Division; U.S. National Chapter of the International Assoc. of Hydrogeologists

Hydrogeology; Engineering Geology; Environmental Geoscience

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T5. Mountain Hydrogeology, Faults, Fractures, Fluid Flow, and Sustainability of Natural Resources: In Memory of the Contributions of Craig Burton Forster
GSA Hydrogeology Division; GSA Structural Geology and Tectonics Division; GSA Geology and Society Division; GSA Geophysics Division
Jonathan Saul Caine, Shemin Ge, Andrew H. Manning, Jessica Thompson

Focused on multidisciplinary natural resources science and its use in public policy; fundamental to applied research contributions are sought to highlight fieldwork, new approaches, modeling, sustainability, and (or) how laypersons use and perceive scientific information.

Hydrogeology; Structural Geology; Public Policy

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T5. Posters
GSA Hydrogeology Division; GSA Structural Geology and Tectonics Division; GSA Geology and Society Division; GSA Geophysics Division

Hydrogeology; Structural Geology; Public Policy

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T12. Arsenic in Geologic Systems
GSA Hydrogeology Division; GSA Geology and Society Division; GSA Geology and Health Division; International Society for Groundwater for Sustainable Development (ISGSD); GSA Mineralogy, Geochemistry, Petrology, and Volcanology Division; GSA Geobiology & Geomicrobiology Division
Prosun Bhattacharya, Abhijit Mukherjee, Alan E. Fryar, David A. Polya

Global occurrence of arsenic in geologic systems, groundwater, soil, and the food chain has raised serious environmental concern. This session will deal with the occurrence, mobility, biogeochemical cycling, epidemiological, socio-economic effects, and sustainable mitigation of arsenic.

Hydrogeology; Geology and Health; Environmental Geoscience

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T12. Part II
GSA Hydrogeology Division; GSA Geology and Society Division; GSA Geology and Health Division; International Society for Groundwater for Sustainable Development (ISGSD); GSA Mineralogy, Geochemistry, Petrology, and Volcanology Division; GSA Geobiology & Geomicrobiology Division

Hydrogeology; Geology and Health; Environmental Geoscience

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T12. Posters
GSA Hydrogeology Division; GSA Geology and Society Division; GSA Geology and Health Division; International Society for Groundwater for Sustainable Development (ISGSD); GSA Mineralogy, Geochemistry, Petrology, and Volcanology Division; GSA Geobiology & Geomicrobiology Division

Hydrogeology; Geology and Health; Environmental Geoscience

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T17. Geologic Maps, Digital Geologic Maps, and Derivatives from Geologic and Geophysical Maps (Posters)
GSA Engineering Geology Division; Association of American State Geologists; U.S. Geological Survey; GSA Geology and Society Division; GSA Geophysics Division; GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division
Richard C. Berg, Ralph F. Crawford, Michael W. Higgins, Linda Jacobsen, E. Donald McKay, David R. Soller, L. Harvey Thorleifson

This poster session will highlight new geologic maps, mapping programs, and innovations in geological mapping, including data management, web accessibility, 3-D, and applications in water and land management.

Geoscience Information/Communication; Hydrogeology; Engineering Geology

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T18. Reaching New Peaks in Geoscience: Geoscience in the Service of a Sustainable Future
GSA Geology and Society Division; GSA Geology and Public Policy Committee; GSA Hydrogeology Division; GSA Engineering Geology Division; Association of American State Geologists
D. Craig Cooper, Jonathan H. Goodwin

This session will explore ways that geoscience research and effective communication of its results contribute to sustainability. Topics include overcoming hazards and climate change, supplying water resources, energy and minerals, using geologic maps, and geomorphology.

Environmental Geoscience; Public Policy; Geoscience Information/Communication

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T18. Posters
GSA Geology and Society Division; GSA Geology and Public Policy Committee; GSA Hydrogeology Division; GSA Engineering Geology Division; Association of American State Geologists

Environmental Geoscience; Public Policy; Geoscience Information/Communication

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T20. National and International Geological Licensure, The ASBOG Fundamentals of Geology and Practice of Geology Examinations, Accreditation, and Assessment of Academic Degree Programs
GSA Geology and Society Division; National Association of State Boards of Geology
Richard K. Spruill

Geological licensure in the U.S. and Canada is based in part on successful completion of national examinations. Results of these examinations are now available to geoscience departments for use in assessment and accreditation.

Geoscience Education; Geoscience Information/Communication; None of the above

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T21. Ocean Acidification and Other Societally Relevant Environmental Changes: Using the Past to Infer Our Future (Cushman Session)
GSA Geology and Society Division; Cushman Foundation for Foraminiferal Research
Joan M. Bernhard, Michael Martínez-Colón

This session will highlight geobiological, paleontological, and biogeochemical research on fossil or modern organisms to address time-sensitive issues, such as ocean acidification and other types of environmental change, including global warming and sea-level rise.

Paleontology, Diversity, Extinction, Origination; Paleontology, Biogeography/Biostratigraphy; Paleontology, Paleoecology/Taphonomy

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T21. Posters
GSA Geology and Society Division; Cushman Foundation for Foraminiferal Research

Paleontology, Diversity, Extinction, Origination; Paleontology, Biogeography/Biostratigraphy; Paleontology, Paleoecology/Taphonomy

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T22. Exposing Myths and Misrepresentations of Climate Change and Evolution Science: Strategies and Case Studies for Geoscientists, Educators, Policy Makers, and the Press
GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division; American Quaternary Association (AMQUA); GSA Geobiology & Geomicrobiology Division; GSA Geology and Society Division; GSA Geoscience Education Division; International Union for Quaternary Research (INQUA); National Association of Geoscience Teachers; Paleontological Society
George T. Stone, Michael E. Mann, Andrew M. Buddington

Public mistrust of evidence-based knowledge compels clear explanation of science and exposure of myths and misrepresentations. This session presents strategies and case studies in climate-change and evolution science to help meet this imperative.

Quaternary Geology; Paleontology, Diversity, Extinction, Origination; Geoscience Education

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T26. Advances in Clean Coal Technology, Carbon Sequestration, and Enhanced Resource Recovery
GSA Coal Geology Division; GSA Geology and Society Division
Jack C. Pashin, Stephen F. Greb

This session examines advances in clean coal technology, including geologic carbon sequestration and enhanced oil and gas recovery. The environmental impacts of greenhouse gas emissions and carbon capture and storage programs are considered.

Coal Geology; Environmental Geoscience; Public Policy

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T26. Posters
GSA Coal Geology Division; GSA Geology and Society Division

Coal Geology; Environmental Geoscience; Public Policy

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T42. Participation of Undergraduates and K-12 Students in Environmental and Geoscience-Related Research: A Critical Tool for Experiential Learning Technique (Posters)
National Association of Geoscience Teachers; GSA Geoscience Education Division; GSA Geology and Society Division
Nazrul I. Khandaker, Stanley Schleifer

Undergraduates and K-12 students interested in earth-system science and current environmental hot topics are highly encouraged to share their research experience and benefit from interacting with fellow geoscientists, academicians, and concerned citizens.

Environmental Geoscience; Geoscience Education; Geoscience Information/Communication

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T43. Research on Diversity in the Geosciences and S&E Workforce: Data and Successful Strategies
National Association of Geoscience Teachers; GSA Geology and Society Division
Michael G. Loudin, Marilyn J. Suiter, Jill Karsten, Roman Czujko

Many programs addressing increased diversity in the geosciences have been instituted but the scholarly compilation of data and strategies of successful methods seems lacking. This session will provide data on geoscience diversity development and outcomes.

Geoscience Education; Public Policy

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T46. Using Real- and near–Real-Time Data in the Classroom(Posters)
GSA Geoscience Education Division; National Association of Geoscience Teachers; GSA Geology and Society Division
Michael P. Poland, Rachel Teasdale, Katrien J. Kraft

This session will focus on the innovative use of earth-science data, particularly that which is provided online in real- and near–real-time, in academic settings (both formal and informal).

Geoscience Education; Geoscience Information/Communication

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T82. Geology in the National Forests and Grasslands — Stewardship, Education, and Research
GSA Geology and Society Division; GSA Engineering Geology Division; GSA Hydrogeology Division; GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division; GSA Geoscience Education Division; USDA Forest Service
Christopher P. Carlson, Joseph T. Gurrieri, J. Courtney Cloyd, Michael A. Crump

This session will explore aspects of the geological sciences conducted on the National Forests and Grasslands. Topics include paleontology, geomorphology, hydrogeology, geoecology, natural-hazard mitigation, cave and karst, engineering, and interpretive and recreational geology, and more.

Environmental Geoscience; Engineering Geology; Public Policy

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T82. Posters
GSA Geology and Society Division; GSA Engineering Geology Division; GSA Hydrogeology Division; GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division; GSA Geoscience Education Division; USDA Forest Service

Environmental Geoscience; Engineering Geology; Public Policy

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T88. Minerals, Microbes, and Health
GSA Geology and Health Division; GSA Geobiology & Geomicrobiology Division; GSA Geology and Society Division; Mineralogical Society of America; International Medical Geology Association
Robert B. Finkelman

Shielding humans from infection via local or global pathogens requires interdisciplinary actions. The crossover of geological, biological and medical scientists melds research on minerals and microbes that can have profound impacts on human health.

Geology and Health; Mineralogy/Crystallography; Geochemistry

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T91. Successes and Societal Benefits of Data Preservation
GSA Geoinformatics Division; U.S. Geological Survey; Association of American State Geologists; GSA Geophysics Division; GSA Geology and Society Division
Frances W. Pierce, John C. Steinmetz

Preservation of geological, biological, and cultural data is important to the Nation's well-being. This session will provide examples of data preservation and the societal benefits of preservation and access to these data.

Geoinformatics; Geoscience Information/Communication; Public Policy

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T93. Community Remote Sensing: A New Approach for Geoscience Applications
GSA Geoinformatics Division; GSA Geoscience Education Division; GSA Geology and Society Division; Secure World Foundation
Suzanne T. Metlay, William Gail

Community remote sensing encourages citizen-scientists worldwide to contribute remotely sensed data about immediate surroundings using easily downloadable apps for their mobile phones. Consider CRS uses, and how to apply and share data across professional disciplines.

Remote Sensing/Geographic Info System; Geoinformatics; Geoscience Education

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T109. Online Citizen Science: Engaging the Public to Solve Real Science Challenges in Planetary Geology and Terrestrial Geoscience
GSA Planetary Geology Division; GSA Geoscience Education Division; GSA Geology and Society Division
Cassie Bowman, Jayne C. Aubele, Eric J. Pyle

Present projects that engage the public in planetary or terrestrial geoscience research by collecting, processing, or analyzing data in large datasets, including online databases or data collected at distributed sites and uploaded to central repositories.

Planetary Geology; Geoscience Education; Geoscience Information/Communication

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T145. Virtual Tectonics
GSA Structural Geology and Tectonics Division; GSA Geoscience Education Division; GSA Geoinformatics Division; GSA Geology and Society Division; National Association of Geoscience Teachers
Declan G. De Paor, S.J Whitmeyer

Application of virtual reality to tectonics: virtual field trips, LiDAR, Gigapans, Google Earth, Second Life, virtual specimens, animations, simulations of tectonic and neotectonic processes, interactive maps, lunar and planetary VR, and the geology of exoplanets.

Structural Geology; Geoscience Education; Geoinformatics

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