| 10 March 2009 GSA Release No. 09-08 |
| Contact: Christa Stratton Director - GSA Communications & Marketing +1-303-357-1093 |
Geoscientists to Discuss Sea Level Rise, Extreme Storm Events, the Fossil Record, and More at GSA Southeastern Section Meeting
Geological Society of America hosts regional meeting in St. Petersburg, Florida, March 12-13
Boulder, CO, USA – More than 300 geoscientists will gather 12-13 March for the 58th annual meeting of the Southeastern Section of the Geological Society of America. The meeting takes place at the Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront Hotel in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Geoscientists from the University of South Florida (USF) Department of Geology are hosting the meeting along with the USF Geology Alumni Society.
Journalists are invited to attend sessions of interest, interview scientists, and visit the exhibit area. Complete meeting information can be found at http://www.geosociety.org/sectDiv/southe/09mtg/index.htm
SCIENCE HIGHLIGHTS
Theme sessions cover such topics as geologic maps and digital map publication; geoscience education and literacy; local cave and karst systems; the impacts of sea-level rise, reduced sediment supply, extreme storm events, and human activity on coastal systems; the region’s diverse animal and plant fossil record; and the study of volcanoes, with an emphasis on those in the Caribbean region.
Interest in local cave and karst systems, including new and existing sinkholes, has seen an upswing in the past decade, partly because of major population growth in the area, and this is reflected in the scheduled presentations. Another session also generating much interest covers the paleobiology of the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains, with talks on increasing growth rates in herbivores in Florida following a late Neogene extinction event, investigations of ancient shell beds, and a comparison between fossil shells and recent mollusc populations.
To view the complete technical program visit http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2009SE/finalprogram/.
MEDIA REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Eligibility for media registration is as follows:
* Working press representing bona fide, recognized news media with a press card, letter, or business card from the publication.
* Freelance science writers, presenting a current membership card from NASW, ISWA, regional affiliates of NASW, ISWA, CSWA, ACS, ABSW, EUSJA, or evidence of work pertaining to science published in 2008 or 2009.
* PIOs of scientific societies, educational institutions, and government agencies.
Journalists and PIOs must pay for any short courses or field trips in which they participate.
Representatives of the business side of news media, publishing houses, and for-profit corporations must register at the main registration desk and pay the appropriate fees.
Complimentary meeting registration covers attendance at all technical sessions and access to the exhibit hall. Media must pay regular fees for paid luncheons, field trips, etc.
For additional information and assistance with media registration, contact Christa Stratton, GSA Director of Communications, +1-303-357-1093, .