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Looking Toward GSA’S Future
As we begin a new year, you will start to see more details about
carefully determined priority areas that GSA has asked the GSA
Foundation to support over the next several years. Each area is
vital to leading the way and advancing the geosciences across the
full breadth of our field. We hope that you have noticed our recent
stories highlighting specific program areas in which our mem-
bers’ contributions have made tangible impacts. These chosen
priorities are critical to the future of our field:
Communicating Our Science
Since its beginning, one of GSA’s primary purposes has been the
communication of geoscience knowledge through publications and
scientific meetings. The in-person interactions that occur at the
Annual Meeting, Penrose Conferences, Thompson Field Forums,
and global meetings are essential to our field. Technological
advances, enhanced accessibility and participation, and support of
central meeting elements are key to the vitality of these gatherings.
Additionally, GSA’s transition to open-access journals will ensure
content availability to all audiences while assisting authors and safe-
guarding that researchers of all circumstances from around the
world can be published in GSA’s high-quality journals.
Future Geoscientists
Gift Ntuli, a GSA On To the Future alum, at a field camp in the Bighorn Basin.
GSA is uniquely positioned to invest in and foster the next gen-
eration of geoscientists, which really means investing in the future
of our field. About 9,400 GSA members are students who could
benefit from strengthened career pathways at every level, whether
it be increased graduate research support, mentoring and career
development opportunities, or the advancement of a more diverse
geoscience community. www.geosociety.org/gsatoday
Education
The expansion of field experiences brings science alive not only
for students, but also for teachers who are often the start to a
child’s first encounter with earth science. GSA has the opportu-
nity to make field experiences available to educators, college stu-
dents, and post-graduates, providing formative opportunities like
GeoCorpsTM America and Geoscientists-in-the-Park positions on
federal lands or field camp opportunities to hone skills and find
geoscience passions.
Policy
GSA President Claudia Mora, Matt Polizzotto, Jessica Witt, and Thomas Luckie, the
GSA Rocky Mountain student award winner, thank Rep. David Price (D-NC) for his
leadership preventing cuts to geoscience research at NSF.
Geoscience must be at the table for critical issues and policies
shaping earth science research, natural resource regulation and
energy exploration, and the broad landscape of science education.
GSA’s Washington, D.C., policy office coordinates hundreds of
congressional office visits—including for students—and part-
ners with many other scientific societies to make sure our voices
are heard. Our Policy Fellowship’s role is critical as a science pol-
icy liaison to GSA members and committees; sustaining this posi-
tion for years to come will be transformative in our efforts.
If you would like details on any of these priorities, and how
you can help, please contact me directly at jhess@geosociety.org
or +1-303-357-1011.
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