The earth sciences are doing more and more of their activities online, and the COVID-19 crisis has amplified this trend. At the same time, it is becoming more critical for earth scientists to better engage the public and all stakeholders in their work. Because the subject is our shared planet and environment, geoscientists can convey much of their work in a relevant way with the public. GSA should seize this opportunity to lead the earth sciences in moving forward with online and data-centered efforts. This includes not only preparing understandable and widely available outreach materials but also helping to ensure that all data and interpretations meet the high standards of the geological community. In this way, we can provide relevant and fact-based information to all interested persons.

Geoscientists across the world are engaging and committing to intentional transformation as we aspire to end racism and achieve equity by continually reevaluating and adapting to a diverse and inclusive geoscience community. This is critical because reports show that geoscience-related disciplines are among the least diverse of all STEM disciplines. This lack of diversity hinges on issues with inclusion, systemic racism, and different forms of discrimination. This session looks to address such questions as “What will it look like for a professional society or organization to be anti-racist and equitable?” “What will it take for us as members of these organizations to be complicit in anti-racism, anti-discrimination, and action for change?” Panelists will discuss, share experiences, and offer concrete suggestions to spur geoscientists towards ally-ship, bystander intervention, accessible practices, recognizing bias, and other anti-racist actions to improve our discipline. Panelists, facilitators, and attendees from different demographics and career stages will engage in a conversation to engage all stakeholders.

Panelists

Christopher Aiden-Lee Jackson, Ph.D., (he/him); Dept. of Earth Science & Engineering, Imperial College. @TIGERinSTEMM, https://www.tigerinstemm.org.

Anita Marshall, Ph.D., (she/her), Dept. of Geology, University of Florida. Director of Operations, The International Association for Geoscience Diversity, @AccessibleGEO, https://theiagd.org.

Sherilyn Williams-Stroud, Ph.D., PG, Research Scientist, Structural Geologist. Illinois State Geological Survey, GSA Diversity Committee, @geosociety, https://www.geosociety.org/.

Erika Marín-Spiotta, Ph.D., Dept. of Geography, University of Wisconsin–Madison. @ADVANCEGeo, https://serc.carleton.edu/advancegeo.

Don Siegel, Ph.D., Geological Society of America, President. @geosociety, https://www.geosociety.org/.

Endorsed by the Geology & Society Division, Geoscience Education Division, History and Philosophy of Geology Division, and Quaternary Geology & Geomorphology Division

Groundwater resources are the most reliable source of freshwater on the planet, so long as they are sustainably managed. While serious groundwater depletion and contamination are well documented in several regions around the world, other regions have the potential to leverage underdeveloped groundwater resources to fuel local human development. Here, I argue for the importance of global perspectives in groundwater governance and management, introduce a recent global groundwater sustainability initiative, and highlight research on new tools for protecting environmental flows from local groundwater pumping.

A sport once tagged as the domain of adrenaline junkies, cave divers have become an important asset to scientists exploring global climate change, archaeology, water issues and unique biology. Jill Heinerth will share stories from expeditions to faraway caves around the world from Egypt to Antarctica and Bermuda to the Bahamas. She’ll offer a fast-paced multimedia show about tiny venomous creatures, ancient lofty stalagmites that tell the story of earth before man and technologies destined for space.