Banner for the 61st Annual Meeting of the GSA Northeastern Section. The left side features the Geological Society of America logo and event details: 'Hartford, Connecticut, 21–24 March 2026' on a teal background. The right side shows an aerial evening view of downtown Hartford, Connecticut, with illuminated buildings and streets.

Submit Abstracts

Abstracts open: 6 Nov. 2025

Abstracts deadline: 13 Jan. 2026, 11:59 p.m. PST

Please note that this button will bring you to the abstract home page. From there, you can view topical sessions, symposia, instructions, and submit an abstract.

New England and Beyond: Investigating the Lithosphere, Hydrosphere, and Anthroposphere

The 2026 Meeting of the Northeastern Section of GSA will be held in Hartford, Connecticut, on 22-24 March. Hartford is located in the Mesozoic Hartford rift basin within the geologically diverse Paleozoic accreted terranes of New England. The Hartford basin contains a rich geologic history with three regionally extensive basalt lava flows and a world-class pillow basalt locality. The sedimentary section hosts dinosaur footprints that are featured at the nearby Dinosaur State Park. Pleistocene glaciation left its mark with numerous glacial features including drumlins, eskers, and glacial deltas. This complex geology presents numerous challenges in terms of anthropogenic environmental impacts. From Hartford there is easy access to the Connecticut River, the Connecticut shoreline and Long Island Sound, and the Berkshire Mountains. The Hartford Convention Center is the meeting site and is just a short walk to numerous restaurants and the Connecticut Science Center.

Registration opens 1 December 2025

Getting There

The Connecticut Convention Center (100 Columbus Blvd., Hartford, CT 06103) is easily accessible for travelers and attendees. Bradley International Airport (BDL) is located just 15 miles from downtown Hartford, offering convenient air travel connections. For those arriving by rail, Amtrak and the Hartford Line provide direct service to the city's transportation hub. Drivers will find Hartford conveniently located at the crossroads of I-91 and I-84, with nearby parking options available. Once downtown, hotels, restaurants, and entertainment are all within walking distance, making it easy to settle in and experience all the meeting has to offer.

A large, multi-level building with many windows is in the background against a blue sky. A plaza, trees, and stairs flack the building in the foreground.
Connecticut Convention Center
100 Columbus Blvd.
Hartford, CT 06103

Accommodations

The Hartford Marriott Downtown (200 Columbus Blvd., Hartford, CT 06103) is conveniently located adjacent to the Connecticut Convention Center, offering modern accommodations and easy access to meeting sessions, dining, and downtown Hartford attractions—perfect for a comfortable and connected conference stay.

A tall, white building is at center and is part of a cityscape with smaller buildings, streets, and trees around it.
Hartford Marriott Downtown
200 Columbus Blvd.
Hartford, CT 06103

Sponsor & Exhibit

Interested in exhibiting or sponsoring at this meeting? Check out the media kit to learn more about your potential audience and benefits, then save your spot by signing up.

Questions? Contact exhibits@geosociety.org.

Local Committee

Organizing Co-Chairs
Mark Evans, Central Connecticut State University, evansmaa@ccsu.edu
Phil Resor, Wesleyan University, presor@wesleyan.edu
Technical Committee
Christoph Geiss, Trinity College, Christoph.Geiss@trincoll.edu
Mike Wizevich, Central Connecticut State University, wizevichmic@ccsu.edu
Exhibits Co-Chairs
Ben Chilson-Parks, University of Connecticut, benjamin.chilson-parks@uconn.edu
Suzanne O'Connell, Wesleyan University, soconnell@wesleyan.edu
Sponsorship Chair
Jean Crespi, University of Connecticut, jean.crespi@uconn.edu
Industry Relations Chair
Meghan Seremet, Connecticut Geological Survey Program, Meghan.Seremet@ct.gov
Field Trip Co-Chairs
Peter Drzwiecki, Eastern Connecticut State University, drzewieckip@easternct.edu
Bob Wintsch, Indiana University Bloomington, wintsch@iu.edu
Short Course and Workshop Co-Chairs
Lisa Park-Boush, University of Connecticut, lisa.park_boush@uconn.edu
Julie Fosdick, University of Connecticut, julie.fosdick@uconn.edu
Student Volunteer Co-Chairs
Jen Piatek, Central Connecticut State University, piatekjel@ccsu.edu
Tammo Reichgelt, University of Connecticut, tammo.reichgelt@uconn.edu
K-12 Teacher Programs Co-Chairs
Jeff Thomas, Central Connecticut State University, thomasjed@ccsu.edu
Kris Larsen, Central Connecticut State University, lfscrvnr@memphis.edu
 
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