Call for Session Proposals

Electronic Submission Required

Thank you for your interest in the GSA Connects 2025 meeting in San Antonio, Texas. The GSA Connects meeting is from Sunday, 19 October 2025 to Wednesday, 22 October 2025.

We invite you to consider this year's themes when submitting your proposals.

Connects 2025 Themes 

Energy and Resource Innovations in the 21st Century

As we navigate an era marked by rapid technological advancements and pressing environmental challenges, this theme underscores the critical role of geosciences in pioneering sustainable solutions. The 21st century demands innovative approaches to harnessing energy and managing resources, from developing cleaner, renewable energy sources to optimizing the extraction and utilization of critical minerals.

Geology without Borders

This theme highlights the inherently global nature of geological sciences and emphasizes the importance of international collaboration in addressing earth science challenges. By transcending geographical, political, and disciplinary boundaries, geologists can foster a deeper understanding of our planet's processes, from plate tectonics to climate change. Cross-border cooperation is vital to tackling global issues such as natural resource management, environmental sustainability, and disaster mitigation.

From Earth to the Cosmos: Geoscience Beyond Our Planet

This theme invites exploration of planetary geoscience in its full scope, bridging terrestrial geology with the study of solid, icy, and gaseous bodies across the solar system and extending to exoplanets. Planetary science covers impacts, volcanism and tectonism, atmospheric, sedimentary, and hydrologic processes, regolith formation, potential biosignatures and habitability. New frontiers include materials for In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU), such as ice and critical minerals, which are crucial for supporting future human habitation on other worlds. Through this expanded lens, geoscientists can explore not only Earth’s unique attributes but also the geological and material diversity across our solar system, contributing to advancements in both science of planetary environments and commercial space exploration.

All technical sessions will be in-person for 2025.

Proposers Please Note: Before you begin to fill out the forms, in addition to the proposal text, please have all of the contact information available for ALL of your conveners or advocates (full first and last names, affiliation, full address and zip code, phone, fax, e-mail).

Topical Sessions
Topical sessions are a combination of volunteered and up to two (2) session-chair invited papers submitted to a specific session. Invited speakers may present two other volunteered abstracts at the meeting, (one oral and one poster, or two posters). Session chairs may present in their own sessions, but cannot be one of the two invited speakers.  

Pardee Keynote Symposia
Pardee Keynote Symposia are prestigious events that highlight important scientific topics and/or issues of relevance to the geoscience community. All presenters and/or panelists are invited by the conveners. Pardees should not be viewed as glorified topical sessions. They are expected to be sufficiently different so that they will attract a broad audience and generate excitement in the community. Please note that Pardee proposals submitted in honor of an individual will typically not be considered.

The selection process is competitive. Pardee proposals should be carefully prepared, with attention given to all aspects outlined here. In particular, the proposal must specify clearly why the proposed symposium merits Pardee status. Therefore, a statement of significance, stating the way(s) in which the topic is timely, important, and relevant to the geoscience community, is a key requirement.

Diversity
As you prepare the proposal for a technical session, please think about including diversity in all ways, such as discipline, career progression, and individuals.

Endorsements
Endorsements strengthen your sessions, as these can help elevate visibility for your session and help tap into avenues for promotion. GSA recommends having your proposed session endorsed, and you can request endorsements during your submission. Your session will be strengthened by endorsement from GSA Divisions, Associated Societies, or allied organizations.

Ethics Disclosure
All individuals submitting topical or Pardee keynote session proposals are expected to embody the ethical standards set forth in GSA's Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. You will be required to be able to answer "NO" to both of the following questions to successfully submit a topical or Pardee keynote session proposal:

• Has any court, regulatory agency, employer, or other public or private entity issued a restriction, sanction, ban, or any other form of discipline against you based on a finding that you engaged in professional misconduct of the type covered in GSA's Code of Ethics?
• To the best of your knowledge, are you currently under investigation by any court, regulatory agency, employer, or other public or private entity for professional misconduct of the type covered in GSA's Code of Ethics?

Proposal deadline: 11:59 PM (Pacific Time), Friday, 7 February 2025.

Select the links below to submit a proposal to the GSA Connects 2025 meeting in San Antonio, Texas.