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2015 GSA PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS

Figure 15. Illustration of the evolution of the modern geologist, Geo sapiens
(graphic courtesy of Opal Adams, Enviroscientists).

Technological advances in such areas as multiple sensors on Figure 16. Percentage of degrees granted to women by degree level, all
airborne drones, submersibles, and vehicles on other planets will majors (illustration courtesy of the American Geosciences Institute; from
permit geoscientists to go places previously considered impossible Wilson, 2014).
for many abled and disabled individuals, further expanding the
inclusiveness of the geoscience profession. GSA’s outreach efforts,
including opportunities to visit informative exposures in the field,
will also increase the accessibility of our exciting science to the
public. GSA Meetings—annual, section, specialty/collaborative
with other geo-societies, Penrose Conferences, Thompson Field
Forums—will be attended in person and virtually, thereby reaching
the global membership and global public. Research interest groups
will flourish with the aid of virtual meetings and discussions.
Language and cultural barriers will drop with the aid of transla-
tion technology.

In summary, the world is changing. The future is bright for
geosciences from many perspectives, including mineral, energy,
and water resources; adapting to and mitigating climate change
and natural hazards; likely scientific discoveries; demographics
and technologies that will attract the best and brightest; and GSA’s
dimensions.

It is an honor to serve as this year’s GSA President. Thank you.

GSA TODAY | JANUARY 2016 REFERENCES CITED Figure 17. Participation of women in geoscience programs (illustration
courtesy of the American Geosciences Institute; from Wilson, 2014).
Dobra, J.L., 2002, The U.S. gold industry: Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology
Special Publication 32, 40 p. Figure 18. Percentage of underrepresented minorities in geoscience and other
science and engineering occupations (illustration courtesy of the American
Kreemer, C., Hammond, W.C., Blewitt, G., Holland, A.A., and Bennett, R.A., Geosciences Institute; from Wilson, 2014).
2012, A geodetic strain rate model for the Pacific-North American plate
boundary, western United States: Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology
Map 178.

Kreemer, C., Blewitt, G., and Klein, E.C., 2014, A geodetic plate motion and
global strain rate model: Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems, v. 15,
p. 3849–3889, doi: 10.1002/2014GC005407.

Price, J.G., 2013, The challenges of mineral resources for society, in Bickford,
M.E., ed., The Impact of the Geological Sciences on Society: Geological
Society of America Special Paper 501, p. 1–19, doi: 10.1130/2013.2501(01).

National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, 2015, Atmospheric CO2 at
Mauna Loa Observatory: U.S. Department of Commerce, http://www.esrl
.noaa.gov/gmd/ccgg/trends/ (last accessed 28 May 2015).

Neuendorf, K.K.E., Mehl, J.P., Jr., and Jackson, J.A., eds., 2005, Glossary of
Geology, Fifth Edition: American Geological Institute, 779 p.

U.S. Geological Survey, 2014, Simplified 2014 hazard map (PGA, 2% in 50 years):
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/hazards/products/conterminous/2014/
HazardMap2014_lg.jpg (last accessed 7 Oct. 2015).

U.S. Geological Survey, 2015, Mineral commodity summaries 2015: U.S.
Geological Survey, 196 p., http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/
mcs/2015/mcs2015.pdf (last accessed 21 Oct. 2015).

Wilson, C., 2014, Status of the geoscience workforce: American Geosciences
Institute, 125 p.

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