The north-central section meeting of the Geological Society of America took place on April 24-25 in Lincoln. The two-day event drew in more than 400 individuals who represented about 50 institutions.
"It was a great meeting," said Nancy Williams, secretary of the GSA north-central section who also teaches at Missouri State University. "There seemed to be a lot of good networking and learning going on."
Geoscientists from the north-central United States and beyond descended upon Lincoln for an array of discussions and presentations that aimed to explore the unique geological and historic features of the region, which covers Ohio to Nebraska and Missouri to Manitoba, Canada.
"I always look forward to the sectional meeting," said David Loope, UNL professor and Schultz Chair in Stratigraphy. "They are small enough that you get multiple chances to talk with colleagues from outside your day-to-day sphere."
Kirk Johnson, Sant Director of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, delivered the meeting’s keynote address.
"The keynote address was a stirring call to action," Loope said. "Scientists have a responsibility to communicate what they know concerning the challenges that now face society."
Several representatives from UNL's School of Natural Resources and the Conservation and Survey Division were involved with the meeting’s planning. Matt Joeckel, professor and geologist, served as chair of the event. Other committee positions were held by Dana Divine, survey hydrogeologist; Paul Hanson, SNR associate director; Jesse Korus, survey geologist; and Mark Kuzila, professor and director of the Conservation and Survey Division.
Additionally, Chris Fielding, UNL professor and Coffman Chair of Sedimentary Geology, organized the topical session on modern and ancient rivers with Jim Best, Jack & Richard Threet Professor of Sedimentary Geology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
"It proved to be a most rewarding sessions," Fielding said. "The session was in my main area of research interest and the principal focus for me at the meeting. However, I enjoyed all the sessions that I attended on both days."
Best said that the meeting was well-organized and its atmosphere was enjoyable.
"The organization and facilities were very good," Best said. "(They) created a very friendly and relaxed atmosphere."
The meeting placed the spotlight on not only Nebraska and its natural resources, but also on the role that universities plays in fostering Earth sciences research and education.
"Since I am chairing the 2015 meeting, I was also particularly interested in getting a better feeling for the scope of interests among north-central section members who attend these meetings," said Jean Bahr, professor of hydrogeology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. "As a faculty member at an institution in the north-central section, it is good to learn about regional geoscience research."
— Mekita Rivas, Natural Resources
More details at: http://go.unl.edu/9okm