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GSA’s Environmental and Engineering

Geology Division Diamond Jubilee

AUTHORS Ottawa, Canada. One of the earliest publications produced by the
Thomas Oommen, Chair Division was The Application of Geology to Engineering Practice,
Arpita Nandi, First Vice-Chair a volume of twelve papers by specialists in various facets of engi-
Francis Rengers, Second Vice-Chair neering geology. In 1951, the Soil Mechanics and Foundation
Ann Youberg, Secretary/Treasurer Division of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) joined
Robert Mitchell, Past Chair with EEGD to form a joint committee on engineering geology. The
initial Division representatives were Roger Rhodes and Edward
The Environmental and Engineering Geology Division (EEGD) Burwell. Karl Terzaghi served as the chair of this collective effort.
was established 75 years ago in 1947 as the first Division of the In his 1986 presidential address, GSA President W.G. Ernst
Geological Society of America, making it the oldest engineering reviewed the “Earth Sciences Status and Future: How Bad, How
geology organization in the United States. The EEGD is celebrating Good.” He highlighted the growing importance of engineering
its Diamond Jubilee at GSA Connects 2022 from 9 to 12 October geology, giving several examples. While the Division initially
in Denver, Colorado, USA, with a number of events, including a centered on the role of engineering geologists in the built environ-
Pardee Keynote Symposium and an Awards and Anniversary ment and hazard assessments, the growing sector of geologists
Banquet. The EEGD Board Members cordially invite all GSA involved in environmental issues led the 2010 Division leadership
Connects attendees to join in this celebration. to add “Environmental” to our name.
As a GSA Division, our mission has been to advance the When the Division was formed, its founders probably did not
ability of geoscientists to identify, characterize, and mitigate know that it would grow to embody an exemplary multidisciplinary
adverse geological conditions and hazards in the interest of public approach to geoscience research, but 75 years onward our Division
health and safety and the protection of property. The Division supports research that highlights the full range of complexities of
promotes research and science communication to members. humans interacting with their environments. The Pardee Keynote
This Division supports publications within GSA such as Reviews Symposium at GSA Connects 2022 provides an excellent opportu-
in Engineering Geology and Environmental and Engineering nity to highlight the many connections between environmental and
Geoscience, which is co-sponsored with the Association of engineering geologic research on the one hand with the many facets
Environmental and Engineering Geologists (AEG), an organiza- of geology, geotechnical engineering, mining engineering, geologic
tion independent of GSA. The EEGD also advocates for properly hazards, remote sensing, geophysics, hydrogeology, and other disci-
trained professionals to promote public health and safety. The plines on the other hand. The invited presentations will provide a
core of our practicing members are licensed professional geolo- historical perspective, as well as insight into the future of the EEGD
gists in the states they serve. utilizing new tools and methods for addressing environmental and
In 1947, the Engineering Geology Division passed from dream engineering geology challenges of tomorrow.
to reality. Charles P. Berkey served as the first chair, and its first We look forward to seeing you at GSA Connects 2022 in
formal meeting took place during GSA’s 1947 annual meeting in Denver and celebrating this historical moment for the EEGD!

38 GSA TODAY | September 2022