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2018–2019 GSA-USGS GSA Division
Congressional Science Fellow Announced
Milestones

GSA acknowledges and congratulates the
Geology and Society Scientific Division
GSA and the U.S. Geological Survey for meeting this milestone:
are pleased to announce that Caitlin
Keating-Bitonti will serve as the
2018–2019 GSA-USGS Congressional
Science Fellow. She will spend a year
working in the office of Senator Tom
Caitlin Keating-Bitonti Udall (D-NM)

Keating-Bitonti is an earth scientist with expertise in paleontol-
ogy. As a native of southeast Michigan, she grew up collecting
ancient marine fossils, developing a strong interest in the planet’s
history and concern for its future. Pursuing this passion in gradu-
ate school, Keating-Bitonti reconstructed ancient climate and GSA’s Geology and Society Scientific Division turns 15 years
ocean conditions, studying microfossil assemblages and their iso- old this year. Established in 2003, this Division seeks to advance
topic compositionsʼ as a National Science Foundation Graduate the concept of “geology working for society” by providing GSA
Research Fellow. Her research integrates paleontology, geology, members with opportunities to bring together multiple fields of
oceanography, physiology, and statistical models to examine geoscience to address important societal issues. This Division
actively hosts interdisciplinary symposia at national and
how ancient marine organisms responded to past environmental regional meetings, provides forums to help its members effec-
perturbations and how these climate shifts shaped their evolu- tively communicate with decision makers and the public,
tionary history. encourages student achievement in helping to inform public
policy by sponsoring a Best Student Presentation Award at the
Recognizing that the geosciences are a vital public concern annual meeting, and honors professional achievement in
but are rarely included in a typical high school curriculum, enhancing public policy by presenting a distinguished lecture
Keating-Bitonti became committed to geoscience education at the annual meeting. The Division also works closely with the
and outreach. During her graduate career, she mentored more Geology and Public Policy Committee to develop and distribute
than 10 high school students and teamed with two other graduate GSA position statements. Learn more at community.geosociety.
students to develop and teach a climate change science course at org/gsocdivision/home.
a preparatory school in Palo Alto, California, USA. After receiv-
ing her Ph.D. from Stanford University, Keating-Bitonti joined
the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History as a Peter
Buck Postdoctoral Fellow, where she continued her research and
also participated in museum outreach. Her time in Washington,
D.C., solidified her desire to be involved in the policy-making Recent, Rare, and
process and to advocate that our practices and policies be Out-of-Print Books
informed by scientific knowledge. She is excited to have the Geoscience Books (now including Pegmatites)
opportunity to serve as the 2018–2019 GSA-USGS Congressional Paleontology, Fossils, Minerals, Specific Mining
Science Fellow. Locations, Ore Deposits, USGS & USBM Publications
http://www.booksgeology.com
Keating-Bitonti earned her B.S. in geology from Syracuse WE PURCHASE BOOKS, SPECIMENS, AND ENTIRE COLLECTIONS
University, her M.S in geology from the University of
Wisconsin–Madison, and her Ph.D. in geological and environ- MS Book and Mineral Company
MSBOOKS@BOOKSGEOLOGY.COM
mental sciences from Stanford University. P.O. Box 6774, Lake Charles, LA 70606-6774 USA

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