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Soliciting Community Input on Culture

and Ethics of Geologic Sampling

Marjorie A. Chan, Dept. of Geology & Geophysics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA; David W. Mogk, Dept. of Earth
Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana 59717, USA

ETHICS OF SAMPLING heritage II workshop proceedings [National and our personal responsibilities as scientists
It is common for earth scientists to collect Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and and citizens for stewardship of Earth, its
samples from a wide range of environments Medicine et al., 2021]). Furthermore, there is resources, and its people.
and settings as a routine part of our work. a growing body of literature and commen-
Samples may include a range of earth and tary on the broader field of geoethics (e.g., GSA’S ROLE IN EVALUATING ETHICS
planetary materials such as rocks, minerals, Di Capua et al., 2021) that embraces our Community input is needed to find a path
fossils, soils/sediments, meteorites, and natu- responsibility to protect our geoheritage. forward for our professional societies to influ-
ral fluids, and comprise the full range of sizes, The ethics of geological sampling is a ence sampling practices. Thus, the purpose of
from large dinosaur bones to microscopic fos- long-standing issue because there is an this short paper is to (1) raise awareness about
sils. In our Anthropocene age of increasing increased international awareness of the the ethics of sampling, and (2) offer the oppor-
world populations, decreased accessibility to need to protect and preserve iconic geologic tunity for the GSA membership, and geosci-
field sites, shrinking resources, more sensitiv- sites for future generations (e.g., through entists at-large, to provide input on our current
ity to cultural Indigenous areas, and unprece- geoheritage initiatives such as the UNESCO culture of sampling through two venues—
dented pressures on unique geoheritage sites, Global Geopark Network, the International an online survey to collect data about geosci-
the ethics of sampling is important to all geo- Union of Geological Sciences [IUGS] entists’ attitudes and practices, and an inter-
scientists. The provenance of samples that International Commission on Geoheritage, active Noontime Lecture forum at GSA
support our research—where they came from, and the International Union for Conservation Connects 2022 in Denver, Colorado, USA.
how they were collected, terms of permission of Nature [IUCN] World Commission on We are soliciting the input of geoscientists
for access and use, and their ultimate fate in Protected Areas Geoheritage Specialist from diverse backgrounds and experience,
archives or disposal—really do matter (e.g., Group, to identify classical geosites). Not- and at all career stages from interested stu-
Planavsky et al., 2020). As a discipline, we withstanding these international programs to dents to experienced professionals, to obtain
need to examine: What is our culture of sam- identify and preserve classic geologic sites, the broadest representation of perspectives
pling? Do we, or should we, have established rock outcrops are being irreversibly dam- and attitudes to evaluate the existing culture
guidelines or standard sampling codes we aged (Fig. 1) due to indiscriminate sampling of geologic sampling. The survey and interac-
abide by (e.g., Nature Geoscience, 2021)? in the name of science (e.g., MacFadyen, tive forum build on liaisons with the American
Should we teach sampling ethics to our stu- 2010; Druguet et al, 2013; Butler, 2015; Chan Geophysical Union (AGU) and the Town Hall
dents as part of our training of the next gen- and Kamola, 2017; Foss, 2019; Di Capua et on geological sampling convened at their 2021
erations of geoscientists? Ethics examine the al., 2022). In addition, many geologic sites Fall Meeting.
moral principles that affect both our personal also hold significant cultural and spiritual
and professional behavior, and the ethics of value for Indigenous people, landowners, SURVEY—OPEN TO ALL
sampling may reveal conflicting values with and local communities, and there is a need GEOSCIENTISTS
personal, professional, environmental, and to minimize the impacts of sampling activi- We invite all GSA members as well as
societal implications. ties or marking outcrops. It is increasingly allied professional society members to par-
Over the past half century, the rising important for geoscientists to examine the ticipate in a pre-meeting survey with the
international geoconservation movement ethics of our communal sampling practices, purpose of collecting information to better
has recognized that special geological fea-
tures need to be protected and managed as Figure 1. This pre-2017 exam-
part of our geoheritage. The Geological ple of geovandalism (sam-
Society of America (GSA) Position pling without a permit), shown
by paleomagnetic drill holes
Statement on Geoheritage defines “sites or (red arrows), is a reminder of
areas of geologic features with significant exceptionally poor judgement
that left a scarred arch-aeo-
scientific, educational, cultural, and/or aes- logical petroglyph site on a
thetic value,” which are key to advancing Miocene tuff, Nevada, USA.
What personal or professional
knowledge and support the broad under- values guided the decision to
standing of the environment, its geodiversity sample here? What are the
consequences? What infor-
and biodiversity, and the factors that influ- mation or training could have
ence climate change (see America’s Geo- led to better decision-making?
Image credit: S. Foss.
GSA Today, v. 32, https://doi.org/10.1130/GSATG542GW.1. CC-BY-NC.

44 GSA TODAY | September 2022