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Meaningful Partnerships: Brunton and GSA

Corporate partners have long been a crucial part of the develop- connection to GSA: while working on her master’s degree in geol-
ment and financial support of the GSA Foundation and GSA pro- ogy at the University of Colorado Boulder, Lauren received a GSA
grams. While contributed funds are vital to the existence of many Graduate Student Research Grant in 2002, which helped support
programs, so is the hands-on, engaged participation of companies her tectonic geomorphology fieldwork in central Taiwan. In 2003,
and their employees. Our partners are highly committed to the Lauren participated in the GSA Penrose Conference on Tectonics
next generation of geoscientists, and we are thrilled to welcome and Climate in Taiwan, and she had the opportunity to bring par-
Brunton as an organizational partner. Geologist D.W. Brunton ticipants through her tectonically active field area of Puli, Taiwan,
created the Pocket Transit Compass in 1894—just six years after before the main conference convened in the spectacular Taroko
GSA was established; the now-indispensable compass maker and Gorge. She became a student member of GSA in 2002 and has
the almost 133-year-old geological society are a symbiotic pairing. attended, presented, and worked at many GSA annual and Section
With Brunton’s legacy of excellence in its gold-standard instru- Meetings since then. Lauren went on to work for the Colorado
ments, and the Geological Society of America’s legacy of commit- Geological Survey before nine years of teaching at Fort Lewis
ment to geoscience research, discovery, and stewardship, the two College, including field methods courses and ten summer field
organizations share like values of steadfastness and distinction. camps for several schools. Through that experience, Lauren
Partnering for GSA 2020 Connects Online, Brunton offered invented a new model of geologic compass and associated mea-
discounts to meeting attendees who could enjoy live virtual tours surement methods, patenting and licensing to Brunton what is
of the company’s production facility in Riverton, Wyoming, USA. now the Axis Transit. Now at Brunton in Riverton, Wyoming,
In addition to supporting the meeting with sponsorship funds, USA, she works alongside her husband, David, who is the head
Brunton established an ongoing GSA member discount for its of Brunton’s research and development department, to continue
products. The depth and breadth of partnerships is rounded out by innovating new tools that best serve field professionals around
individuals within companies, and Brunton’s new Sales Manager the world. Lauren is excited to serve the geological community in
and Product Specialist, Lauren Heerschap, brings her own special this new role and looks forward to meeting many of you at future
events, or better yet, out in the field!
In 2021, the company solidified its partnership with the Society
in yet another meaningful contribution, specifically to students:
Brunton will provide a ComPro Transit for each of GSA’s 2021
J. David Lowell Field Camp Scholarship recipients. Although the
financial award helps offset field camp costs, this generous gift will
further decrease equipment expenses for each of these students
while providing them with the geologist’s most essential instrument.
GSA values ongoing corporate relationships with partners like
Brunton that have strong ties to our mission and our membership.
Together, we can maximize the collective ability to foster current
and future leaders in the geoscience community. We strive to engage
business and industry as a positive force to advance science, steward-
ship, and service, joining with corporations in the meaningful
impacts of partnership. If you want to learn how you or your employer
can join these efforts, please contact Debbie Marcinkowski at
Lauren Heerschap examining an overhanging strike and dip mea-
surement with the Axis near Lander, Wyoming, USA. +1-303-357-1047 or dmarcinkowski@geosociety.org.

www.gsa-foundation.org

54 GSA Today | May 2021