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GSA2015 ANNUAL MEETING & EXPOSITION
Joseph Thomas Pardee (1871–1960)
Pardee Keynote Symposia
Featured Speakers
GSA TODAY | OCTOBER 2015 Hugh S. Torrens Doug Erwin
Pardee Keynote Symposium P1, Pardee Keynote Symposium P3,
“Celebrating the Genius of William ‘Strata’ “Earth-Life Systems at the Dawn
Smith: Bicentennial Anniversary of of Animals”
Smith’s Revolutionary Map”
Baltimore Convention Center, Room
Baltimore Convention Center, Room 327/328/329, Tuesday, 11:30 a.m..
327/328/329, Sunday, 9:05 a.m. Doug Erwin is a paleobiologist at the National Museum of
Hugh S. Torrens, Professor Emeritus of History of Science Natural History where he is currently working on aspects of
and Technology at Keele University, is, thanks to the work of evolutionary novelty and innovation. He and coauthor Jim
the late Joan Eyles which he inherited, an authority on William Valentine recently published The Cambrian Explosion, a compre-
Smith. Through decades of painstaking research, Torrens hensive study of the Ediacaran-Cambrian diversification of
reconstructed the early mapping endeavors of Smith and animals. His talk title is “Biological Drivers and Geological
uncovered personal vignettes from Smith’s life that captured Controls on the Ediacaran-Cambrian Diversification of Animals.”
public attention. With more than 200 books, papers, and arti-
cles to his credit, Torrens’ research has also encompassed the Taylor Perron
life and accomplishments of Mary Anning, early research in
dinosaurs, and paleontological studies. Pardee Keynote Symposium P5,
“Appalachian Geomorphology”
James Balog
Baltimore Convention Center, Room
Pardee Keynote Symposium P2, 327/328/329, Wednesday, 9:15 a.m.
“Savor the Cryosphere”
Taylor Perron’s research focuses on the
Baltimore Convention Center, Room physical processes that create landscapes, both on Earth and on
327/328/329, Monday, 3:05 p.m. other planets and moons. His group’s efforts currently follow
three themes: the development of uniform patterns in landscapes,
For 35 years, photographer James Balog and the interpretation of these patterns as records of the geologic
has broken new conceptual and artistic ground on one of the past; the influence of climate on erosion and landscape evolution;
most important issues of our era: human modification of our and the role of fluids in shaping landscapes on Mars and Titan
planet’s natural systems. He and his Extreme Ice Survey team (Saturn’s largest moon).
are featured in the 2012 internationally acclaimed, Emmy®-
award–winning documentary Chasing Ice and in the 2009 PBS/ Note: Pardee Keynote Symposium P4, “Similar Information,
NOVA special, “Extreme Ice.” Balog has a graduate degree in Different Results: Fracking from State to State”
geology from Boston College and in geomorphology from the
Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR), University Baltimore Convention Center, Room 327/328/329, Tuesday, 1:30
of Colorado, Boulder. James Balog is also Monday’s “Feed Your to 5:30 p.m.
Brain” speaker (12:15–1:15 p.m.).
Convened by R. Laurence Davis and Christopher P. Carlson,
this symposium will feature a panel discussion with time for
Q&A after talks by geologists and policy makers who will
outline their state’s policies regarding hydraulic fracturing.
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