10 September 2009
GSA Release No. 09-44

Contact:
Christa Stratton
Director - GSA Communications & Marketing
+1-303-357-1093

GSA 2009 Annual Meeting — Media Advisory 2

Oregon Convention Center, Portland, Oregon, USA
18-21 October 2009

Record number of abstracts shapes technical program—new special programs highlighted

Boulder, CO, USA — More than 4000 abstracts will underpin the robust technical geoscience program at the 121st Annual Meeting & Exposition of the Geological Society of America. Oral and poster presentations (including more than 160 topical sessions) encompass a wide variety of geoscience and integrative science topics of international, national, and regional interest.

Representatives of the media and public information officers from universities, government agencies, and research institutions, are cordially invited to attend and participate (see below).

To identify presentations in your specific areas of interest, search topical sessions by discipline categories or sponsors using the drop down menus, or use your browser's "find" feature to search for keywords or convener names.

The complete technical program schedule is now available online.

I. SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM

Eight interdisciplinary, invited-speaker sessions addressing broad, fundamental issues of interest to the geoscience community comprise the Pardee Keynote Symposia, which are an essential component of the GSA meeting program. A few highlights follow.

Hazards and Health: Preventing Disaster and Building Resilience on the Ring of Fire Monday, 19 October, 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. [ session details ]: This session highlights new interdisciplinary directions for managing risk at the emerging crossroads of hazards, health, and emergency management. International experts will address how professionals from diverse fields of research and practice can effectively collaborate to prevent disaster from following earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes and landslides.
Earth et al. — Our Planets from the Hadean to Today Tuesday, 22 October, 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. [ session details ]: This session is designed to introduce the scientific disciplines geobiology and geomicrobiology to geo- and bioscientists. In 12 presentations given by top scientists in the field, the latest research highlights on the evolution of life and Earth’s environments will be explored. Topics include the origin of life, the rise and diversification of organisms from the first unstructured organic ‘slime’ to skeleton-forming macroorganisms, and the search for life on other planets.
Crisis in the Cryosphere: Impacts of Planetary Meltdown Wednesday, 21 October, 1:30–5:30 p.m. [ session details ]: Anthropogenic warming forewarns of dramatic changes in all Earth systems, including potentially catastrophic impacts on water supplies, sea level and coastlines. Because of the vital importance of cryosphere monitoring, this symposium convenes leading researchers to document current behavior and provide impact projections for geoscientists, educators and policy makers.

See descriptions of all eight Pardee Keynote Symposia at www.geosociety.org/meetings/2009/sessions/symposia.htm and www.geosociety.org/meetings/2009/sessions/symposiaExtra.htm .

II. SPECIAL EVENTS

*Subaru Outdoor Life Lecture: Yvon Chouinard, founder and owner of Patagonia, Inc., environmentalist, and inveterate outdoorsman will speak on Monday, 19 October, from 6:00–7:00 p.m. For information, visit www.geosociety.org/meetings/2009/events-specialTalks.htm.

*New this year! Lunchtime Keynote Lectures will present experts speaking on contemporary topics in a more informal “bring your own lunch” setting at the Oregon Convention Center each day from 12:15-1:15 p.m.

Sunday, 18 October: Patricia A. Woertz, chair, CEO, and president of Archer Daniels Midland Company, will speak on “Toward a Shared Energy Future: Carbon Sequestration and the Global Corporation.”
Monday, 19 October: Sally Benson, Michel T. Halbouty Distinguished Lecturer, will address “Can CO₂ Sequestration Help Solve the Global Warming Problem?”
Tuesday, 20 October: Lucile M. Jones, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) seismologist and visiting research associate at the Seismological Laboratory of Caltech, presents “The Great Southern California ShakeOut: A Successful Experiment in Communicating Science and Policy.”
Wednesday, 21 October: Cynthia Gardner, Scientist-in-Charge, Cascades Volcano Observatory and Scott Burns, Professor, Portland State University, will present “The dynamic landscapes of volcanoes and vineyards in the Pacific Northwest.”

Learn more at www.geosociety.org/meetings/2009/events-LunchLectures.htm.

*Also new this year — Gold Medal Lectures: Sunday, 18 Oct., 5:00–7:00 p.m.
2009 award winners will speak and take questions from the audience.

Penrose Medalist, B. Clark Burchfiel, MIT, specialist in continental tectonics
Day Medalist, T. Mark Harrison, UCLA, specialist in dynamic thermochronology
Donath Medalist (Young Scientist Award), Cin-Ty Lee, Rice University, multidisciplinary geologist studying the formation and stability of continents

Learn more at www.geosociety.org/meetings/2009/events-specialTalks.htm.

*Darwin Day activities, cosponsored by The Paleontological Society and the Darwin Society, will celebrate the 200th birthday of Charles Darwin on Monday, 19 October, at the Oregon Convention Center, Portland Ballroom 251/258. Events include

Special Session T92: In the Footsteps of Darwin the Geologist, from 9:00–11:15 a.m.
This session will discuss the role that Darwin’s geological training played in his most famous works and cover ongoing research into his geological ideas.
Special Session T120: Darwin, Geology and Evolution: Impact of Darwinian Views on Scientific Theory-Making, from 1:30–3:45 p.m.
This session will discuss and celebrate Darwin's thoughts and past-present impact on geosciences, and will examine implications of Darwin's theory of evolution for geology, biology, theology, and scientific philosophy.
Panel Discussion: Overcoming resistance to the reality of evolutionary change in nature, from 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m., featuring Jeremy Jackson, Judge Jones, Randy Olson, Kevin Padian, and Ray Troll.
The day’s activities wrap up with the 2009 GSA Public Forum: The L.A. Theater Works presentation of “The Great Tennessee Monkey Trial,” based on the 1925 transcripts of the Scopes Trial.
Monday, 19 October, 7:30 p.m. at the Newmark Theater. US $25, limited seating.

For information on Darwin Day activities, visit www.geosociety.org/meetings/2009/DarwinDay.htm

III. MEDIA PARTICIPATION

Representatives of the media and public information officers from universities, government agencies, and research institutions, are cordially invited to attend and participate in technical sessions, field trips, and other special events. Eligible media personnel will receive complimentary registration and are invited to use GSA's newsroom facilities while at the meeting.

For more information on media eligibility and registration please visit www.geosociety.org/meetings/2009/rMedia.htm.

The pre-registration deadline for media is Monday, 12 October 2009. After that date, media may register onsite in the GSA Newsroom.

GSA will operate a full-service Newsroom in the Oregon Convention Center. Room D133. Computers with internet and printer access, outgoing telephone lines, and space for interviews will be available. Continental breakfast and lunch are complimentary for journalists attending the meeting.

Beginning Saturday, 17 October, the Newsroom telephone number for incoming calls will be +1.503.963.5708.

Newsroom hours of operation (Pacific Daylight Time) will be:

Saturday, 17 October, 2:00–6:00 p.m.
Sunday through Tuesday, 18–20 October, 7:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, 21 October, 7:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Contact Christa Stratton, GSA Director of Communications & Marketing, for additional information and assistance.

www.geosociety.org/meetings/2009/