Geological Society of America: Triple Joint 75th Southeastern, 60th North-Central, and 60th South-Central Annual Section Meeting
Renasant Convention Center
255 N Main St
Memphis, TN 38103
United States
Opening reception: 8 March 2026
Technical sessions: 9-11 March 2026
The technical program consists of theme sessions and discipline sessions.
Topical Sessions
Recent advances in our understanding of the New Madrid seismic zone
Session advocates: Charles A. Langston, Randy Tom Cox, Christine Ann Powell
Thorough understanding of the New Madrid seismic zone will require integration of observations relating to surface features, the crust and the upper mantle. All contributions are welcomed.
Depositional systems and resource distribution in eastern and southern North America: from orogens to coastal plains
Session advocates: John W. Counts, Ryan T. Deasy, Rebecca Totten
We welcome studies related to the sourcing, dispersal, and deposition of clastic sediments from the hinterlands to the coast, including the provenance, paleogeography, sedimentology, and economic significance of these deposits.
Terrestrial records of hydroclimate variability from the Pleistocene through the Common Era
Session advocates: Rachel C. Lombardi, Derek K. Gibson
Landscapes respond to climatic variability, extreme hydrologic events, and long-term environmental change, informing water resource management. We invite terrestrial proxies of hydroclimate from perspectives in paleoclimatology, geomorphology, or hydrology. Submissions from early-career scientists are encouraged.
Advances and integration of water management techniques to enhance water security under increasing demand
Session advocates: Deborah Leigh Leslie, Michele L Reba, Jesse Radolinski
We invite presentations on field, laboratory, and modeling studies that address water management. Presentations can include topics on water conservation techniques to strengthen the scientific rationale and quantify the impacts of both stress and management.
Transforming Geoscience Education: Reimagining how we teach the Earth
Session advocates: Stephanie L. Shepherd, Tyler Smith, Karen McNeal
This session will explore innovative and student-driven approaches to geoscience education. Contributions may focus on either design and implementation or research on evidence-based instructional strategies like active learning, project-based learning, field experiences, and others.
Advances in Geologic Mapping, Databases, and Dissemination: Establishing fundamental resources for the earth science community
Session advocates: Andrew L. Wunderlich, William Thomas Jackson, David R. Soller
This session will highlight new geologic maps, innovations in mapping techniques, and related advances in data management, web accessibility, and applications. We welcome submissions with relevance to hazard assessments, natural resource evaluations, and water-land management.
Frontiers in Geochronology: Advances and Applications in the Geosciences
Session advocates: Tiffany Rivera
This session highlights cutting-edge geochronologic advances and applications that illuminate Earth’s dynamic history. We welcome contributions spanning new analytical techniques, integrative studies, and innovative case examples demonstrating the essential role of time in geosciences.
Geological Surveys and Resource Mapping/Evaluation Studies
Session advocates: Valarie Joyner Harrison, Bonnie Craighead, William Jackson, Mark Carter
This session highlights studies from state geologic surveys and the U.S. Geological Survey regarding natural resource evaluations. We welcome submissions with relevance to critical minerals, rare earth elements, various energy sectors, and the construction industry.
Near-Surface Geophysics and Geoarchaeology: Methods and Mapping
Session advocates: Blair R. Tormey, Paul S. Martin
We invite abstracts that will highlight applied methodologies and mapping projects, including near-surface geophysics (e.g., GPR, resistivity, magnetometry), remote sensing (e.g., drones, LiDAR), or comparisons in GPS accuracy and precision (e.g., GNSS, N-Trip, RTK)
Advances in ichnology: walking in Memphis and other records of behavior
Session advocates: Brian F. Platt, Jon J. Smith
This session will feature research in all aspects of organism-substrate interactions, including paleoichnology and neoichnology. We welcome submissions including, but not limited to, ichnotaxonomy, applications to resolving sedimentological and stratigraphic problems, and tracemaking experiments.
Building Connections Between Educators and Geoscientists to Foster the Future Workforce
Session advocates: Sarah Hayes, Bernard E. Hubbard, Elizabeth Tomaszewski, Christina A. DeVera
Join us in sharing effective educational outreach practices and opportunities to connect geoscience researchers, educators, and outreach professionals. Topics include using data in the classroom, place-based and experiential learning, co-developing educational resources, and community engagement.
Interstate Stratigraphic Correlation: A Practical Geology Session
Session advocates: William R. Doar, Kathleen M. Farrell
Primarily a hands-on display of core and samples with posters, and talks, to facilitate interstate correlation. Concepts covered are related to interstate correlation problems in stratigraphy—mapping, source rocks for REE minerals, geochronology, and regolith.
Advances in understanding landslides and other mass movements
Session advocates: Daniel M. Sturmer, Mason Doyle
In this session we want to highlight advances in understanding mass movements, including studies focused on description, mapping, monitoring, triggering mechanisms, mitigation, modeling, and evaluating susceptibility.
Applications of Igneous Petrology, Geochemistry, and Geochronology to Understanding Earth and Other Planetary Systems
Session advocates: Claire McLeod, Danielly Aguirre, Jordan Bell, Ken Brown
This session invites contributions that explore igneous systems through traditional and nontraditional methods. Studies that link crustal evolution, planetary formation, resource potential, and comparative planetology across temporal and spatial scales are especially encouraged.
AI-Driven and Machine Learning Approaches in Geospatial Modeling for Hydrologic and Geologic Mapping
Session advocates: Youngsang Kwon, Reza Soltanian, Farzad Moeini
This session features GIS, remote sensing, and AI-driven/machine learning approaches to geologic and hydrologic mapping, emphasizing predictive modeling, cross-scale analysis, and innovative workflows that extend beyond traditional cartographic methods.
New Research in the Appalachian-Ouachita Orogen: Integrated studies from the Foreland to the Hinterland
Session advocates: Clinton I. Barineau, Ashley S. Lynn, Arthur James Merschat, Jack C. Pashin
This session welcomes research from the Ouachita-Appalachian foreland, Blue Ridge, and Piedmont, focusing on old paradigms and new problems. Contributions across scales that utilize mapping, petrology, paleontology, geochemistry, geophysics, and/or geochronology are welcome.
Undergraduate Research
Session advocates: Wendi JW Williams, Jeffrey C. Strasser, Robert D. Shuster, Jeffrey G. Ryan, Lee Phillips
Session showcases undergraduate research. Topics include geoscience-related fields (e.g., resources, hydrology, oceanography, climate, environmental science, geospatial, informatics, health, policy, & education). Undergraduate student/s must be the lead author/s presenters with faculty mentor/s as co-author/s. This session welcomes both poster and oral presentation submissions.
