Geologists explore beach nourishment controversies, groundwater quality, and Blue Ridge mount...( CONTENTS I. Introduction II. ...)

CONTENTS

I. Introduction
II. Presentation Highlights
III. Complimentary Media Registration and Other Information

(I) Sand-pumping: Saving the beaches or just another burden on the taxpayer? What's up with the Mars Odyssey orbiter to be launched right after this meeting? Are the Appalachian Mountains really getting taller? What about North Carolina being at the equator and all of those odd fossils? And what's the connection between an extraterrestrial impact near Chesapeake Bay 35 million years ago and today's groundwater? The answers to these questions and more will be explored by over 700 geologists at the 50th annual meeting of the Southeastern Section of the Geological Society of America (GSA). The meeting takes place April 5-6, 2001, at the Sheraton Capital Center, 421 South Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC.

TWO EVENTS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ON THURSDAY, APRIL 5.
Such issues as pipelining sand to combat erosion have become quite an economical, political, and environmental controversy. Experts with opposing views on the effectiveness of using beach nourishment to combat erosion will present their research and culminate in a panelists' debate. Besides updating us on the upcoming Mars mission, Professor Harry Y. McSween of the University of Tennessee, will focus on the seemingly conflicting nature of rocks on Mars and Martian meteorites found on Earth and the idea that Mars has and is harboring life. McSween served on the science team for the Mars Pathfinder lander and is currently a science team member for the Mars Global Surveyor orbiter.

Geologists from the Department of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at North Carolina State University will host the meeting, in conjunction with the North Carolina Geological Survey and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. They expect over 700 geoscientists to attend.

Registration is complimentary for media representatives who wish to attend these or other s
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Contact: Ann Cairns
acairns@geosociety.org
303-447-2020 ext 156
Geological Society of America
28-Mar-2001