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Why GSA Membership Is Important to Me

1. When did you first become a member? Did anything or
anyone influence you to become a member?
I first became a GSA member in 2017 through the On To the
Future (OTF) program. In 2017, I wanted to present research
results from my master’s thesis at the annual meeting. I was
searching for a travel grant and discovered the OTF program,
which is a wonderful opportunity for students attending their first
GSA annual meeting. Besides the financial assistance, every OTF
student is paired with a mentor, who guides their mentee through-
out the meeting. I realized that GSA is much more than an aca-
demic society; it is a great avenue to share research results, net-
work, and build stronger academic connections.
2. Did you or do you participate in any programs or commit-
tees or apply for research grants?
At my first GSA annual meeting, I was thrilled to know about
the various student opportunities. I felt extremely welcomed and
decided to get more involved with the society. Now as an OTF
alumni, I attend OTF workshops and virtual hours. I have served
as the student representative of the Geology and Society Division, 4. What is the greatest benefit to being a member of GSA?
moderated fireside chats, chaired a technical session, co-convened My professional network has grown immensely over the years
a Pardee Symposium and a mining session, and volunteered dur- by being part of the broader GSA community, participating in
ing annual meetings. These positions help me stay connected with year-round events, and through interdisciplinary networking.
the different Divisions and communities within GSA.
5. What would you say to a peer who is considering joining
3. How has GSA membership been particularly impactful on GSA/starting their geoscience journey?
your career? GSA is full of opportunities for everyone; it does not matter if
GSA membership has a huge contribution toward my overall pro- you are a student, early career researcher, academic, or industry
fessional development and in broadening my academic network. professional. Never underestimate the scope of networking, and
In addition, I received a graduate student research grant in 2020, GSA is a great place for that.
which will allow me to conduct international fieldwork in Morocco.
Sinjini Sinha
University of Texas at Austin
GSA member since 2017

40 GSA Today | October 2021