| 16 June 2009 GSA Release No. 09-32 |
| Contact: Christa Stratton Director - GSA Communications & Marketing +1-303-357-1093 |
|
GSA 2009 Annual Meeting — Media Advisory 1
Oregon Convention Center, Portland, Oregon, USA
18-21 October 2009
Media Registration and Lodging Reservations are now open.
Boulder, CO, USA – More than 6000 geoscientists will gather at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland on 18-21 October to participate in "Volcanoes to Vineyards: Living with Dynamic Landscapes," the 121st Annual Meeting & Exposition of the Geological Society of America. This is the final of three GSA Annual Meetings tied to themes of the International Year of Planet Earth, organized under the auspices of the International Union of Geological Sciences and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization.
Representatives of the media are cordially invited to attend and participate in technical sessions, field trips, and other special events. Eligible media personnel will receive complimentary registration (see below) and are invited to use GSA's Newsroom facilities while at the meeting.
Public information officers from universities, government agencies, and research institutions are also invited to take advantage of the GSA Annual Meeting to distribute press releases on presentations by your scientists and meet with members of the media onsite.
I. SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM
The GSA Annual Meeting is a multifaceted exchange of important earth-science research across all geoscience disciplines.
Eight Pardee Keynote Symposia feature interdisciplinary, invited-speaker sessions addressing such topics as
- Crisis in the Cryosphere: Impacts of Planetary Meltdown
- Earth et al.—Our Planets from the Hadean to Today
- First Global View of the Geology of Mercury: Dynamic Landscapes on the Innermost Planet
- Hazards and Health: Preventing Disaster and Building Resilience on the Ring of Fire
See descriptions of all eight Pardee Keynote Symposia at www.geosociety.org/meetings/2009/sessions/symposia.htm.
More than 160 Topical Sessions offer the chance to learn about the latest research in your fields of interest. These interdisciplinary sessions involve a mix of invited and volunteered papers.
Topics include
- The many facets of global climate and environmental change
- 50 years of hydrogeology (GSA’s Hydrogeology Division celebrates its 50th anniversary)
- Geology and health
- Cave and karst science
- The co-evolution of early Earth and microbial life
- Terroir — the relationship of geology, soils, hydrology, and climate to wine
- Hazards mitigation (coastal, landslide, flood, and more)
- Magnetism
- Volcanism and tectonics
- Impact events and mass extinctions
- A celebration of Darwin’s 200th birthday
- Planetary geology/glacial Mars
- Energy resources: carbon sequestration, clean coal, and sustainable water resources for energy needs
- Forensic geology
- Paleontology
- Soil geochemistry in mineral exploration
- Geoarchaeology
For more information on the topical sessions, visit www.geosociety.org/meetings/2009/sessions/topical.asp.
(Note: You may search by discipline categories or sponsors from the drop-down menus, or use your browser's "find" feature to search for keywords or convener names.)
Additional technical session detail will be available following the abstract submittal deadline of 11 August 2009.
** Field Trips **
From accreted terranes to viticulture terroir, this year’s forty trips will emphasize the “Volcanoes to Vineyards” theme of the meeting and also cover a range of Pacific Northwest geoscience topics. Learn how tectonism, volcanism, stupendous flood basalts, cataclysmic flooding, and landslides have shaped the Northwest and now influence hazards, resources, and human habitation. Remarkable scenery, whitewater boating, and brew pubs and wineries are requisite elements of the Northwest experience and will be integral to several trips. Trips range from one to four days in duration and some are physically rigorous.
Topics include
- Geology and Geo-Archaeology of Hells Canyon, Oregon and Idaho
- Terroir Tour of the Northern Willamette Valley
- Archaeology and Geomorphology of the Oregon Coastal Zone
- Lavatubes of the Mount St. Helen’s Region: Geology, Biology, and More!
- Portland Geology by Tram, Train, and Foot
- Kirk Bryan Field Trip: Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology of the Columbia River Gorge
- Paleobotany of the John Day Fossil Beds, Central Oregon
For more information on field trips, visit www.geosociety.org/meetings/2009/fieldTrips.htm.
** Special Events **
2009 GSA Gold Medal Lectures: The 2009 Penrose, Day, and Donath medalists will speak and take questions from the audience.
Sunday, 18 Oct., 5–7 p.m.
To learn more, visit www.geosociety.org/meetings/2009/events-specialTalks.htm.
GSA Lunchtime Keynote Addresses: This new series of four lunchtime lectures will cover topics relevant to today’s world.
Sunday–Wednesday, 12:15–1:15 p.m.
- On Sunday, Patricia Woertz, chair, CEO, and president of Archer Daniels Midland Co., will speak on “Carbon Sequestration and the Global Corporation.”
- Monday’s lecture is the Halbouty Distinguished Lecturer, Sally Benson, speaking on “Can CO2 Sequestration Help Solve the Global Warming Problem?”
More information will be announced as it becomes available at www.geosociety.org/meetings/2009/events-specialTalks.htm.
2009 GSA Public Forum: The L.A. Theater Works presents “The Great Tennessee Monkey Trial,” based on the 1925 transcripts of the Scopes Trial.
Monday, 19 Oct., 7:30 p.m., US $25, limited seating.
For information, visit www.geosociety.org/meetings/2009/events-special.htm#trial.
Subaru Outdoor Life Lecture: Yvon Chouinard, founder and owner of Patagonia, Inc., environmentalist, and inveterate outdoorsman will speak.
Monday, 19 Oct., 6–7 p.m.
For information, visit www.geosociety.org/meetings/2009/events-specialTalks.htm.
II. MEDIA PARTICIPATION
Eligibility for media registration is as follows:
- Working press representing bona fide, recognized news media with a press card, letter, or business card from the publication.
- Freelance science writers, presenting a current membership card from NASW, ISWA, regional affiliates of NASW, ISWA, CSWA, ACS, ABSW, EUSJA, or evidence of work pertaining to science published in 2008 or 2009.
- PIOs of scientific societies, educational institutions, and government agencies.
Journalists and PIOs must pay for any short courses, field trips, or ticketed events in which they wish to participate.
Representatives of the business side of news media, publishing houses, and for-profit corporations must register at the main registration desk and pay the appropriate fees.
Scientists who are also reporters or bloggers and who are presenting at this meeting (oral or poster session) may receive media credentials if they qualify (see above), but must also register for the meeting and pay the appropriate fee as a presenter.
To access media registration, visit www.geosociety.org/meetings/2009/rMedia.htm. Pre-registration deadline for media is Monday, 12 October 2009. After that date, media may register onsite in the GSA Newsroom.
International journalists: Find visa information at www.geosociety.org/meetings/2009/visa.htm.
Book your lodging early for best selection. Go to www.geosociety.org/meetings/2009/lodging.htm.
Contact Christa Stratton, GSA Director of Communications & Marketing (above), for additional information and assistance.
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