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Learn More about GSA’s Environmental

& Engineering Geology Division

Authors: GSA Environmental & Engineering Geology Division professionals involved in some form of landslide-related topic—
Board members: Robert Mitchell, Chair; Thomas Oommen, mapping, mechanics, modeling, education, and mitigation. Under
First Vice-Chair: Arpita Nandi, Second Vice-Chair; Francis the leadership of former EEGD board chairs Bill Burns and Matt
Rengers, Secretary/Treasurer Crawford, the Division recently (2020) formed a Landslide
Committee. The committee is open to any GSA member. Its
Applied geology is the practice of taking geologic research charge is to collaborate with AEG’s Landslide Workgroup to moti-
and applying that knowledge to solve society’s geologic problems. vate research, outreach, and communication regarding landslide
GSA’s Environmental & Engineering Geology Division (EEGD) hazards and risk reduction. Given that landslides are one of the
consists of applied geologists and geological engineers dedicated most common geologic hazards and occur in all 50 states, the
to solving some of Earth’s greatest problems, from climate change committee’s goal is to engage state and federal agencies, univer-
to groundwater contamination. The umbrella of environmental sity researchers, cities, counties, private consultants, and others
and engineering geology covers an immense range of skill sets working to reduce landslide risks.
and backgrounds, including geologic hazards, soil and rock Like other GSA Divisions, our growth and sustainability rely
mechanics, hydrogeology, environmental geology, economic and on student participation. As such, we continue to make attempts
mining, geoinformatics, geomechanics, remote sensing, and many to engage them. In 2015, we seated our first student representative
others. Because of this range, there is no single research area, on our board, which has greatly improved our outreach. Our moti-
expertise, or academic study that defines the members of EEGD. vated student leaders have introduced social media instruments,
Our membership ranges from students, academics, and profes- student newsletters, and mentoring opportunities at the annual
sional geologists from private industry and government agencies. GSA meeting. We recently voted that our EEGD student member-
Over the decades, the strength of EEGD has come from its ship will be free starting in 2022. The Division also annually hon-
broad interdisciplinary foundation, as evidenced by its sponsor- ors graduate research with the Roy J. Shlemon Scholarship Award
ship of numerous technical sessions and Pardee Symposia at and celebrates student research with its student poster competition
annual GSA meetings. Though the Division was founded nearly at the annual GSA meeting.
75 years ago, it has adapted with the changing science and inter- Our most effective outreach mechanism, though, is through the
ests of Division membership. The Division originally centered Richard H. Jahns Distinguished Lectureship, which we cosponsor
on the role of engineering geologists in the built environment with AEG. Every year since 1988, an eminent applied geoscientist
and hazard assessments. In 2010, to embrace the growing sector is chosen to promote student awareness of environmental and
of geologists involved in environmental issues, the Division lead- engineering geology through a series of lectures presented at
ership added “environmental” to our name. numerous academic institutions across the nation.
The Division’s mission is to advance the ability of geoscientists Moving forward, we anticipate the Division’s growth will be
to identify, characterize, and mitigate adverse geological and envi- driven by expanding our mission to embrace a more diverse mem-
ronmental conditions and hazards in the interest of public health bership. In concert with the values set forth in the GSA Diversity
and safety and the protection of property. To do so, the Division in the Geoscience Community Position Statement we encourage
promotes research, education, and dissemination of information a community of people from all backgrounds to ensure healthy,
relevant to members and is proud to be the only GSA Division safe, and sustainable communities. This includes professionals
to cosponsor publications: Environmental and Engineering with a diversity of skill sets that bridge traditional field observa-
Geoscience, cosponsored with the Association of Environmental tions with advancing technological and computational tools and
and Engineering Geologists (AEG), and Reviews in Engineering science communicators who make discoveries and recommenda-
Geology, cosponsored with the GSA. To encourage public health tions accessible to the public. The outcome will be more creative
and safety, EEGD also advocates for properly trained professionals geoscientists and engineers with a global presence required to
through geologic licensing. The core of our practicing members address emerging problems driven by climate-change resilience
are licensed professional geologists in the states that they serve. and a growing population. What will not change is the Division’s
Although inherently interdisciplinary, a fundamental theme commitment to highlight advancing applied geoscience at the
of the Division has historically been landslide hazards. Division annual GSA meeting, through our publication series, and a pro-
leadership over the years has dominantly been academics and jected stronger presence at GSA Section Meetings.

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