This year’s five prestigious Pardee Keynote Symposia will scrutinize:
• Subsurface energy systems, which account for 80% of total US energy needs—Colorado is ranked eighth among the states in proven oil reserves;
• The environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing;
• Managing the high plains aquifer for future prosperity, with featured speaker Ann Castle;
• Geology of our solar system’s “third zone” — Pluto, Charon, and the Kuiper Belt;
• The geologic evolution of Cuba, featuring keynote speaker Manuel Antonio Iturralde Vinent in the first joint event in many years between the geological societies of our two nations, we initiate what we hope will become a strong relationship.

Sunday’s Presidential Address and Awards Ceremony will feature incoming GSA President Claudia Mora, Los Alamos National Laboratory, talking about mission-driven geoscience in federal agencies, working toward a goal of developing the basic understanding necessary to solve complex problems in support of the Nation’s energy and national security, and its environmental health.  In addition, top honors will be awarded to luminaries in the field.

There are currently 230 topical sessions submitted, many of which are identified with icons denoting industry applicability—including Energy, Economic Geology, Hydrogeology, Environmental Geology, and Engineering Geology.

“Head to Denver for the annual GSA meeting and fall aspen display—they set the gold standard for leaf gazing and Earth Science,” says Meeting General Chair Karen Berry of the Colorado Geological Survey.  Technical Program Chair Paul Baldauf, Nova Southeastern University Natural Sciences and Oceanography, invites participation, stating that the 2016 program “continues to demonstrate GSA’s relevance in the geoscience community with diverse and outstanding sessions.”

September meeting dates portend agreeable weather for the 35 pre- and post-meeting scientific field trips, which are a unique feature of GSA meetings.  Several field trips will explore the stratigraphy of the Denver Basin and its prime unconventional reservoirs. One field trip will explore Denver’s energy grid and look at the role coal, gas, solar, wind, and other renewables play in keeping the lights on. Other field trips will explore the cultural history, legacy, and geology of Colorado’s gold and mineral belt. Members of the media must register and pay appropriate fees to participate.

Complete meeting information will be updated regularly on the Annual Meeting website. Information is also available in the June issue of GSA Today.

Oral Sessions run Sun.–Wed., 8 a.m.–5:30 p.m. at the Colorado Convention Center, 700 14th Street, in Denver. Watch the website for special “Feed Your Brain” lunchtime lectures scheduled each day from noon to 1:30 p.m.

Poster Sessions will be on display 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m. on Sun. with authors present from 3:30–5:30 p.m.,

Technical Program
Search topical sessions for areas of interest by discipline categories or sponsors from the drop-down menus, or use your browser’s “find” feature to search for keywords or convener names.
The complete technical program schedule will be available in early August 2016 after the abstract submission deadline.