GSA Fellowship
Fellowship is an honor that is bestowed on the best of our profession once per year at the GSA Spring Council meeting and is recognized at our yearly Annual Meeting. GSA members are elected to Fellowship in recognition of distinguished contributions to the geosciences.
Attention Current GSA Fellows!
Fellowship nominations may only be made by a Fellow of the Society. Please see Election Criteria below to ensure your nominee is eligilbe for Fellowship.
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All documents must be received at GSA by 1 February. |
E-mail all supporting information to: |
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If you are a GSA Fellow, you may nominate a colleague for this honor by following the below guidelines and instructions for submitting a nomination.
If you are not certain whether your potential nominee is already a GSA Fellow, see list of current fellows , check the Membership Directory (see to your left), or contact GSA Headquarters to inquire about the member's current status (GSA Sales and Service, +1-888-443-4472 [toll-free in US]; 303-357-1000, option 3; ).
Guidelines for Making a SUCCESSFUL GSA Fellowship Nomination
- A GSA Fellow may only support two nominees per election cycle, only one of which as a primary nominator.
- A GSA member may not be a primary nominator, but may be a secondary nominator for no more than two nominees per election cycle.
- Both supporting nominators must be GSA members; at least one needs to be a GSA Fellow.
- It is up to the nominator to collect the entire nomination packet and submit it as one package (in one e-mail with all supporting documents as attachments; or in one e-mail with all supporting documents saved in one PDF attachment; or as one printed package sent via post).
- Late, incomplete, or insufficiently supported nominations will, regrettably, be turned down.
- Submit early so that errors or omissions can be rectified before the deadline.
INSTRUCTIONS for Nomination
Online Nomination Form
- An online nomination form is required.
- No signatures are required.
Supporting Documents From The Nominator
The following supporting documents will be required from the primary nominator (in addition to the online nomination form):
- A letter of nomination (up to two pages) including a separate paragraph decribing the nominee's contributions which support the primary selected criteria for election.
- A current curriculum vitae or government record of the nominee.
- One supporting letter from each of the secondary nominators, which must support the nominator's selected criteria for election.
- A full bibliography of the nominee (only required if the nominee is being elected for "Publication of the results of geologic research" —Item A from the Election Criteria listed below).
The nominator must submit all supporting documents, including letters of support, as one package; either via e-mail (with attachments) or in a mailed packet. The online form will arrive separately once submitted online.
Paper submissions will still be accepted, but we encourage electronic submission.
Election Criteria
A member of the Geological Society of America is elected to Fellowship in recognition of distinguished contributions to the geosciences.
A member can be nominated for Fellowship only by a Fellow of the Society who initiates the process by completing the Nominating Sponsor's Form and identifying two other Fellows, or one Fellow and one member, who agree to support the nomination.
A nominee for Fellowship shall have had at least eight years of professional experience in geology or related fields. Graduate study may be substituted for a maximum of three of these eight years. Nominees for Fellowship will be selected from individuals who have been members for at least twelve months prior to nomination. Fellows are expected to maintain GSA membership.
In addition to professional experience, to meet the standards for Fellowship, it is the responsibility of the nominating sponsor to document or attest to the nominee's contributions to the science based on personal knowledge of the professional activities documented in that nominee's vitae and bibliography.
The nature of the contributions to the science made by the Fellowship candidate may take many forms, including those examples listed below. This list is not intended to be exclusive or restrictive, but merely serve as a set of examples. Furthermore, the categories listed are not intended to represent any order of importance, but rather exemplify activities commonly presented as reasonable qualifications for Fellowship.
- Publication of the results of geologic research. This category should include the development of new data and interpretation of data in some aspect of geology reported in standard publications appropriate for the discipline.
- Applied research. The practical application of geologic knowledge to significant problems concerning geologic resources, natural hazards, and/or environmental problems is an avenue of contribution to the science of geology that may be made by geologists in academe, industry or governmental agencies at all levels.
- Training of geologists. Teaching of geology students in either graduate or undergraduate formal education programs constitutes an important contribution to the science. Furthermore, participation in presentation of specialized training in applied programs, short courses, etc., may also be recognized. Preparation of educational materials (textbooks, laboratory manuals, short-course guides, field guides, etc.) may also constitute a contribution.
- Administration of geological programs. A wide range of administrative positions provides an opportunity to make a contribution to the geological sciences. For example, these include effective administration of distinctive academic programs, leadership of research teams, coordination of research programs, supervision of industrial programs involving application of geologic principles, and in general, supervision of a significant number of geologist employees.
- Public awareness of geology. Presentations of geological work to governmental agencies (legislative bodies, courts, committees, etc.) as well as to the public in general may provide the basic support for important advances in geology.
- Professional organizations. Participation in the leadership of professional organizations, particularly to GSA.
- Editorial, bibliographic, and library responsibilities. The dissemination of geologic knowledge contributes to the advancement of the science, and unique activities in these areas may provide qualification for Fellowship.
- Other. The opportunities available to Members of the Geological Society of America to make a contribution to the science of geology are as diverse as geologists are and indeed as geology itself. Therefore, a nominating sponsor may present activities, which do not fit into any of the ordinarily prescribed categories.