Geoscientists Set to Discuss Climate Change, Water Resources, and More

Newswise — More than 900 geoscientists will gather soon for the 44th Annual Meeting of the Northeastern Section of the Geological Society of America, held this year in conjunction with the Maine Water Conference. Hosting organizations include the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of New England, the Maine Geological Survey, the Department of Geosciences at the University of Southern Maine, the Department of Geology at Bates College, The University of Maine, and the Geological Society of Maine. The meeting will take place at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland, Maine.

An overarching theme for the meeting is climate change, and the keynote presentation, Climate Change: Realities, Surprises and Opportunities, by Paul Mayewski, Director of the Climate Change Institute at the University of Maine, reflects that theme. The keynote address, which is open to the public free of charge, will take place on Sunday, 22 March, at 5:30 p.m. in the New Hampshire-Vermont rooms, Holiday Inn by the Bay. A symposium and several themed sessions will also focus on this topic.

Technical sessions will highlight cutting-edge scientific research and feature presentations on such topics as:"¢ The vulnerability of salt-marsh ecosystems to sea-level rise;"¢ Better understanding the role of arc collisions in orogenesis and developing research around the relationship between surface-lithosphere dynamics in collisions;"¢ Road salt, arsenic, and other environmental contaminants in hydrologic systems; and"¢ Geoarchaeology as a tool for better understanding of human societies, culture, and environment.

Maine Groundwater: Sustainable Aquifer Use through Monitoring and Regulation will be the topic of a morning-long session on Sunday, March 22. With Maine's water resources often in the news, presentations by state and private geologists will shed light on how groundwater is monitored and regulated. View the session details at http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2009NE/finalprogram/session_23370.htm

Six themed sessions will run jointly with the Maine Water Conference and will cover diverse issues ranging from water quality and the demand for groundwater resources to watershed habitat restoration and managing aquatic ecosystems.

More than 480 presentations will be made by academic and industry scientists, undergraduates and graduate students.

To view the technical program, visit http://www.geosociety.org/sectdiv/northe/09mtg/techprog.htm.

MEETING INFORMATIONComplete meeting information is available at http://www.geosociety.org/sectdiv/northe/09mtg/index.htm

Information on registration is available at http://www.geosociety.org/sectdiv/northe/09mtg/registration.htm

MEDIA REGISTRATION INFORMATIONEligibility 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.

Complimentary meeting registration covers attendance at all technical sessions and access to the exhibit hall. Journalists and PIOs must pay regular fees for paid luncheons and 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.

For additional information and assistance with media registration, contact Christa Stratton, GSA Director of Communications, +1-303-357-1093, [email protected].

www.geosociety.org

The Geological Society of America, founded in 1888, is a scientific society with more than 22,000 members from academia, government, and industry in more than 95 countries. Through its meetings, publications, and programs, GSA enhances the professional growth of its members and promotes the geosciences in the service of humankind. Headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, GSA encourages cooperative research among earth, life, planetary, and social scientists, fosters public dialogue on geoscience issues, and supports all levels of earth science education.