A Biennium of North American Geosciences
Earth in Common is a two-year (2027–2028), GSA-led collaboration with the 38th International Geological Congress (IGC 2028) to advance geoscience research, education, and public understanding of Earth systems spanning North America and the societies that depend on them.
Anchored by major international gatherings traversing the continent from Montréal (GSA Connects 2027) to Calgary (IGC 2028) and Portland (GSA Connects 2028), this biennium initiative celebrates advances in geoscientific knowledge of shared resources, technology, history, hazards, climate, and landscapes that shape life across North America and beyond.
One continent. Shared science. Collective impact.
| Event | Dates | Location |
|---|---|---|
GSA Connects 2027 | 17–20 October 2027 | Montréal, Québec, Canada |
IGC 2028 | 12–20 August 2028 | Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
GSA Connects 2028 | 8–11 October 2028 | Portland, Oregon, USA |
Bring Your GSA Field Trip to IGC 2028
Have you led a field trip for GSA? Now you can share it with an international audience. Submit your trip to IGC 2028 and ask GSA to endorse it as an official GSA Field Trip. Endorsed trips that IGC selects will carry the “GSA Endorsed Field Trip” label.
Is my field trip a good fit?
We’re especially looking for field trips with a successful GSA track record in recent years. Field experiences from anywhere in North America are welcome, and trips that could run in August or September 2028 are a particularly good match.
Planning something new, or making major changes to a past trip’s leaders, route, or teaching content? You can still apply. These trips go through an extra round of review, which may involve GSA’s Professional Development Committee.
Two steps · Two deadlines
| Step 1: Submit to IGC | Step 2: Request GSA endorsement | |
|---|---|---|
Where | ||
Due | 1 December 2026 | 8 December 2026, 11:59 p.m. MT |
Have ready | A description of your trip, how long it runs, how many participants it can take, and a preliminary budget. IGC’s site has the full checklist and a budget template. | Names and contact details for you and any co-leaders. There’s no budget to send to GSA. |
Before you start: GSA endorsement and IGC selection are separate decisions. IGC makes the final call, so GSA endorsement doesn’t guarantee your trip a place in the program. Endorsement also doesn’t automatically include funding or logistical management; any other support is decided separately. Most importantly, your trip must be submitted to IGC by 1 December 2026, whether or not you’ve contacted GSA yet.
Questions about submitting? Join the drop-in Q&A Zoom session
Date
Wednesday, 28 October 2026
Time
Noon–1 p.m. Mountain Time (2 p.m. ET · 11 a.m. PT)
What to expect
- The IGC field trip co-chairs will be online for at least the first 15 minutes.
- Jean C.C. Hsieh, PhD, P.Geo, will be available for the full hour, so join whenever it suits your schedule.
- Slides from the previous information session will be available to share.