VOLUME 13, NUMBER 4/5 APRIL/MAY 2003 GSA TODAY publishes news and information for more than 17,000 GSA members and subscribing libraries. GSA Today lead science articles should present the results of exciting new COVER research or summarize and synthesize important problems or Nisqually Glacier at Mount Rainier issues, and they must be understandable to all in the earth National Park, Washington. Photo by science community. Submit manuscripts to science editors Keith A. Howard, [email protected], or Gerald M. Ross, John Karachewski. [email protected]. GSA TODAY (ISSN 1052-5173) is published 11 times per year, monthly, with a combined April/May issue, by The Geological Society of America, Inc., with offices at 3300 Penrose Place, Boulder, Colorado. Mailing address: P.O. Box 9140, Boulder, CO 80301-9140, U.S.A. Periodicals postage paid at Boulder, Colorado, and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to GSA Today, GSA Sales and Service, P.O. 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Good ADVERTISING: 48 GeoVentures 2003: New GeoTrip—The Great Barrier Reef Classifieds & display: Ann Crawford, 1-800-472-1988, ext. 1053, (303) 357-1053, Fax 303-357-1070; [email protected] 50 New Science Co-Editors Take the Reins of GSA Today GSA ONLINE: www.geosociety.org 50 Editors Complete Terms Printed in U.S.A. using pure soy inks. 51 Journal Highlights 50% Total Recovered Fiber 10% Postconsumer 52 Classified Advertising Call for Papers November 2–5, 2003 Greetings! Washington State Multifaceted Seattle provides a fascinating arena for the GSA Annual Meeting. Seattle Convention & Trade is an amazing place—aesthetically, culturally, and geologically. In few other North American cities do Holocene lahars lap up against the downtown shopping district, Center, Seattle active surface faults bisect half-billion-dollar sports stadiums, glacial fjords float ten thousand commuters daily to their climate-controlled office buildings, and recent landslides the size of small New England townships provide home to million-dollar ANNUAL MEETING SPONSOR views for software executives and coffee moguls. If you’ve never been to Seattle, come to experience a place, for better or worse, like none other. If you know the city like the back of your hand, revisit old friends and resample the local beverages. For the Title Sponsor of the 2003 GSA Annual Meeting rest of you, enjoy the continuing evolution of one of the most unique cities, and set- tings, of our continent. 2003 ANNUAL MEETING HOST Geoscience Horizons: Seattle 2003 promises to be an exciting meeting. There’s a great set of field trips and workshops, technical sessions, and the opportunity to University of Washington make or renew collegial connections. The meeting has a broad range of sessions that both encompass and expand the boundaries of traditional “geologic” studies. So, ex- amine the session titles, find your niche, and offer your contribution by submitting 2003 ANNUAL MEETING an abstract. If you don’t find your topic area, please submit to one of the general ses- sions—your session-mates may well be the most eclectic, creative group at the meet- LOCAL COMMITTEE ing. Come to Seattle and experience the beautiful “Emerald City.” General Chair Derek Booth Derek Booth General Chair, Seattle Local Committee University of Washington (206) 543-7923 [email protected] IMPORTANT DATES, EVENTS, & DEADLINES Technical Program Chair Registration Opens: June 2 Dave Bush State University of West Georgia Abstracts Deadline: July 15 (770) 836-4597 Preregistration Deadline: September 26 [email protected] Registration Cancellation Deadline: October 3 Field Trip Chair Premeeting Field Trips: Sun.–Sat., Oct. 26–Nov. 1 Terry Swanson Short Courses & Workshops: Sat., Nov. 1 University of Washington (206) 543-1923 K–16 Workshops: Sat.–Sun., Nov. 1–2 [email protected] Presidential Address & Awards Ceremony: Sun., Nov. 2, 4–6 p.m. Welcoming Party & Exhibits Opening: Sun., Nov. 2, 6–8 p.m. Hot Topics Chair Technical Program: Sun.–Wed., Nov. 2–5 Fred Schwab Pardee Keynote Symposia: Sun., Nov. 2, 8 a.m.–noon Washington & Lee University (540) 463-8870 Mon.–Wed., Nov. 3–5, 8 a.m.–noon, & 1:30–5:30 p.m. [email protected] Private Alumni Receptions: Mon., Nov. 3, 5:30 p.m.–1 a.m. Group Alumni Party: Mon., Nov. 3, 7–9:30 p.m. K–16 Education Chair Exhibits Open: Mon.–Tue., Nov. 3–4, 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Elizabeth Nesbitt Exhibits Close: NEW! Wed., Nov. 5, 2 p.m. University of Washington Hot Topics: Mon.–Wed., Nov. 3–5, over lunchtime (206) 543-5949 [email protected] Postmeeting Field Trips: Wed.–Sat., Nov. 5–8 GSA TODAY, APRIL/MAY 2003 5 Associated Societies American Association of Stratigraphic Palynologists ■ American Institute of Professional Geologists Association for Women Geologists ■ Association of American State Geologists ■ Association of Earth Science Editors Association of Engineering Geologists ■ Association of Geoscientists for International Development Council on Undergraduate Research, Geosciences Division ■ Cushman Foundation Environmental & Engineering Geophysical Society Geochemical Society ■ Geoscience Information Society ■ History of the Earth Sciences Society International Association of Hydrogeologists ■ Mineralogical Society of America National Association for Black Geologists and Geophysicists National Association of Geoscience Teachers ■ National Earth Science Teachers Association National Ground Water Association ■ Paleontological Research Institution ■ Paleontological Society Sigma Gamma Epsilon Society for Sedimentary Geology ■ Society of Economic Geologists ■ Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Allied Societies American Association of Petroleum Geologists ■ Asociación Geológica Argentina ■ Geological Association of Canada Geological Society of Australia ■ Geological Society of London ■ Geological Society of South Africa Soil Science Society of America GSA Welcomes These New Associated