Mark Your Calendars for Virtual Chats
Second GSAF Virtual Chat: Field Camp and Accessibility
On Thursday, 16 December, we hosted a discussion on fieldwork and accessibility, which was moderated by GSAF Board Member Rex Buchanan and featured Graham Stickler from GSA member benefit partner SOAR; 2021 recipient of the John T. and Carol G. McGill Research Award, Kathryn Smith; and past GSA president J. Douglas Walker.
Graham described SOAR’s technology and its implications for accessibility in fieldwork. Kathryn talked about using drone technology to accomplish her research, and Doug discussed his work at the intersection of accessibility and fieldwork through his role at the University of Kansas.
Watch the recording from this chat below:
Virtual Chats: Our Current Way to Visit with You
GSAF Virtual Chat: Field Camp and Safety
On Giving Tuesday, 30 November, we hosted a virtual chat on field camp with a focus on field safety. GSA Foundation Board Member Rex Buchanan moderated the chat with GSA Councilor Jeff Rubin, past GSA president J. Douglas Walker, and 2021 J. David Lowell Field Camp Scholarship recipient Alexandra Banks.
Watch the recording from this chat below:
GSAF Virtual Chat: Policy
On Tuesday, 20 April, we hosted a virtual chat on policy and the geosciences moderated by GSAF board member Rex Buchanan with Kasey White, GSA’s Director for Geoscience Policy; Mark Little, 2009–2010 GSA-USGS Congressional Science Fellow, past GSA Councilor, and Executive Director of CREATE; Melanie Thornton, 2018–2019 GSA-USGS Congressional Science Fellow and Professional Staff Member at U.S. Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources; and Connor Dacey, current GSA Science Policy Fellow.
Kasey started the chat with a short presentation on the work that GSA’s policy office does to get geoscience a seat at the table of policymaking. Then Kasey, Mark, Melanie, and Connor participated in a panel discussion about the work being done at the intersection of policy and geoscience including questions from attendees.
Watch the recording from this chat below:
Year-End 2020
We launched our year-end campaign with more excitement than usual on Giving Tuesday, 1 December, with a Virtual Chat Honoring J. David Lowell: Field Camp in Changing Landscapes. GSAF Board Vice-Chair Jeff Oslund led the initial conversation with GSA Past President George Davis on GSA’s commitment to supporting field work. Dr. Miriam Barquero-Molina, Director of University of Missouri’s Geology Field Program, talked about the importance of in-person field work, historically and into the post-pandemic world ahead. We also heard first-hand about a field camp experience from a fully virtual Indiana University field camp attendee, Michael Hanna-Wilson.
Watch the recording from this chat below:
At 12:00 p.m. MDT on 8 December, GSAF Board Vice-Chair Jeff Oslund led a second virtual conversation about changes and challenges with in-person and virtual field camps in a quickly shifting environment. We heard about experiences from summer 2020’s field season from the executive director of Indiana University’s Geologic Field Station, Jim Handschy; University of Washington professor emeritus Darrel Cowan; and University of Houston’s Summer Field Geology Director Jinny Sisson.
Watch the recording from this chat below:
Summer 2020
We started hosting virtual chats in the summer of 2020 with four discussions about GSA programs supported by donors like you. The first was led by GSAF board member Mike Manship, who discussed why it’s important to give to GSA’s Greatest Needs fund. The second was led by GSAF board member Darrel Cowan on research grants. GSA’s Executive Director Vicki McConnell led our third chat on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our fourth summer chat was led by GSAF board member Jinny Sisson on field camps.
We will continue to offer exciting opportunities for virtual engagement, so please bookmark this page and return often for more updates and keep an eye on your email.