GSA James B. Thompson, Jr. Distinguished International Lectureship

The lecture tours are made possible through a gift to the GSA Foundation by James B. Thompson, Jr., whose bequest contributed to the endowment of two lecture tours by distinguished geologists, one a non-North American scientist to tour academic and related institutions within North America, and the other a North American scientist to tour foreign universities and geological institutions. Both tours are arranged under the guidance of GSA International.

Nominations for 2026-2027

The deadline for nominations is 15 February each year. We are currently accepting nominations for 2026-2027 (self-nominations welcome).

Nominate

GSA International seeks nominations for distinguished geoscience speakers for the 2026-2027 GSA James B. Thompson, Jr. Distinguished International Lecturer. Nominations are being accepted for two dynamic speakers of established scientific stature who can present stimulating and cutting edge geoscience research for one or two tours each. The nominee/s may be either living outside of North America and be able to lecture at North American institutions. Or the nominee/s may be living within North America and be able to lecture outside of N. America on topic/s that are at the forefront of research in order to raise visibility for The Geological Society of America within the international geoscience community.

Alan Fryar, 2024-2025 Thompson Lecturer

Professor Alan Fryar is the James B. Thompson, Jr. Distinguished International Lecturer for 2024-2025.

Alan Fryar brings a wealth of expertise and experience to this prestigious role. He received his BS in Geology and History from Duke University in 1984, his MS in Geology from Texas A&M University in 1986, and his PhD in Geology from the University of Alberta (Canada) in 1992. Following his doctoral studies, he was a Research Associate in the Bureau of Economic Geology at the University of Texas at Austin from 1992 to 1995. Currently, he is a Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Kentucky, where he has been a dedicated faculty member since 1995.

Professor Fryar’s teaching portfolio includes classes in hydrology, hydrogeology, and environmental geology. Over his distinguished career, he has mentored eight PhD and 18 MS students. His research interests encompass groundwater/stream interactions, mass transport in karst watersheds, chemical evolution during groundwater recharge and flow, natural attenuation of contaminants, and water resources in developing countries. He has authored or co-authored 73 journal papers and 18 book or proceedings chapters.

Professor Fryar is a GSA Fellow and has also served as Chair of GSA’s Hydrogeology Division (2013-14). His international contributions are notable, having been a Fulbright Specialist in Environmental Science to Pakistan (2009-10) and India (2017), a Fulbright Research Scholar in Geology to Morocco (2014), and a Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellow to India (2023).

Follow Alan Frayar's 2024-2025 Thompson Lecture Tour in India

Alan Fryar (University of Kentucky) shares highlights from his spring lecture tour across India, where he engaged with students and researchers at top institutions while exploring the country’s diverse landscapes and cultures.

Read his blog to discover the science, stories, and connections that made this journey unforgettable.

Tour blog no. 1