BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – More than 6,000 geoscientists from around the United States and the world will converge on Indiana next fall when the Indiana Geological and Water Survey, a research institute of Indiana University, serves as host organization for the 2018 annual meeting of the Geological Society of America.
The meeting will take place Nov. 4 to 7 at the Indianapolis Convention Center. It will include hundreds of workshops, short courses, technical sessions, field trips and business meetings that span the natural sciences, including education and public policy.
“Every 30 years or so, the Geological Society of America comes back to Indiana for its national conference, providing an outstanding opportunity to showcase the geology and geological research being conducted in Indiana and the greater Midwest,” said Indiana Geological and Water Survey director and state geologist Todd A. Thompson. “We’re hoping for a large turnout and looking forward to meeting with our earth science colleagues from across the nation and the world.”
Lee Florea, assistant director for research with the Indiana Geological and Water Survey, will coordinate more than 20 professional geoscience field trips across Indiana and the Midwest. Participants will learn more about the unique geology of the region, such as the history of glaciation, evolving dunes and lakeshores, the production of dimension stone for buildings and monuments, and labyrinthine cave systems. Scientists from the survey, staff from other state geological surveys and university faculty from across the region will help organize these trips and publish professional guidebooks.
Over the next year, survey staff will facilitate other aspects of the meeting. For example, outreach coordinator Polly Sturgeon will assist with marketing and highlighting Indiana geology through the production of promotional videos on social media sites and the creation of a special “ABC’s of Indiana Geology” deck of cards with sites of interest from across the state.
The Indiana Geological and Water Survey receives support, in part, from the Office of the Vice Provost for Research at IU Bloomington. Its mission is to provide geologic information and counsel that contribute to the wise stewardship of the energy, mineral and water resources of the state. Since 1837, the health, safety and welfare of Indiana’s citizenry have benefited through a combination of its activities: focused research initiatives and cooperative investigations with governmental agencies, businesses and industries, and educational organizations; geologic sample and data collection and archiving; and dissemination of information in many forms, including published maps, reports, databases and educational outreach programs.
