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GSA Scientific Division Milestones

GSA has 22 scientific Divisions that any member may join. 30 Years: GSA’s Geoscience Education
Divisions help you stay connected with your colleagues worldwide Division (est. 1991) fosters the active par-
and receive specific information related to your area of interest. ticipation of GSA members in all aspects
They provide opportunities for leadership and service, specialty of earth-science education. The Division
meetings, awards, student support, and development of the GSA complements and expands on the contri-
meeting technical program. butions of GSA’s Education, Communications, and Outreach
group, the National Earth Science Teachers Association (NESTA),
50 Years: GSA’s Geophysics and the National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT), the
Geodynamics Division (est. 1971) facili- National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), and other similar
tates the presentation and discussion of organizations. It sponsors the Biggs Earth Science Teaching
the ideas of scientists interested in geo- Award and a Distinguished Service Award.
physics, fosters communication among
geophysicists and other earth scientists, 20 Years: GSA’s Geobiology and
and promotes research and publication. This Division sponsors Geomicrobiology Division (est. 2001)
the George P. Woollard Award and lecture for outstanding contri- promotes interdisciplinary research
butions to geology through the application of the principles and focusing on the interplay between the
techniques of geophysics. For students, the Division offers the biosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and
Allan V. Cox Student Research Award and the GSA Geophysics atmosphere. More specifically, geobiologists and geomicrobiolo-
and Geodynamics Division Student Research Award. gists examine the effects of biological activities on geological
processes and the influences of geological settings on biological
45 Years: GSA’s History and Philosophy processes—both at the macro- and micro-biological scales, in the
of Geology Division (est. 1976) works to past through the present. Members are invited to the yearly lunch
encourage the study and communication banquet where winners of the annual Outstanding Contributions
of the philosophy and history of geology. to Geobiology & Geomicrobiology Awards are celebrated.
The Division sponsors technical sessions
at GSA meetings and honors geologists for their research, writing, 15 Years: GSA’s Geoinformatics
and historical work through the Mary C. Rabbitt History of Geology and Data Science Division (est. 2006)
Award, the Gerald M. and Sue T. Friedman Distinguished Service advances “Data to Knowledge,” provid-
Award, and the History & Philosophy of Geology Student Award. ing GSA members with an opportunity to
participate in the emerging field of cyber-
40 Years: GSA’s Planetary Geology infrastructure. The Division actively promotes and sponsors short
Division (est. 1981) fosters interactions courses, symposia, and books that emphasize information technol-
among planetary scientists, facilitates ogy–supported discovery and integration of geoscience data lead-
the presentation and discussion of their ing to a more comprehensive understanding of Earth and the plan-
research and ideas, stimulates communication with other earth ets as complex systems. Each year, the Division presents the
scientists, and promotes planetary geology to a broad audience. Outstanding Contributions in Geoinformatics Award.
Awards sponsored by the Division include the G.K. Gilbert Award,
the Ronald Greeley Award for Distinguished Service, and, for stu- 5 Years: GSA’s Continental Scientific
dents, the Eugene M. Shoemaker Impact Cratering Award, the Drilling Division (est. 2016) was founded
Stephen E. Dwornik Awards for best student presentations at the to advance the exploration and investiga-
annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, Student Travel tion of Earth’s continental subsurface
Grants, and (jointly with the Meteoritical Society) the Pellas-Ryder CONTINENTAL SCIENTIFIC DRILLING through scientific drilling. Its purpose is
DIVISION
Award for the best student-authored paper in planetary science. to provide a community for GSA mem-
bers who use scientific drilling in their research; to foster commu-
nication and collaboration between scientists from across the GSA
Divisions who use scientific drilling to study the Earth’s subsur-
face; to support workshops, symposia, sessions, and other activi-
ties that educate GSA members and promote research using scien-
tific drilling; and to advise officers and committees of the Society
on issues relevant to continental scientific drilling.

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