Deadline January 12, 2026

The theme for the 2026 season at Ft Stanton Cave is - Subterranean Inquiry: The study and documentation of karst systems within Fort Stanton Cave.

Proposals wishing to embrace this theme should focus on hard science that gathers data and then analyzes that data to further the documentation and or understanding of how certain processes work in the larger cave system. Some priorities are to better understand and document: water flow and storage within the cave, overall airflow, identification of microclimates, biologic resources - inventory and documentation, geographic resources - creating, refining, categorizing, and making data available in a GIS format. If you are proposing a scientific study, you or someone associated with the study must be a subject matter expert.

Required Documents:

2026 Fort Stanton Cave Proposal submission criteria and process.pdf

RAPTOR Instructions for 2026 FY FSC Proposal Submission.pdf

2026 FSC Proposal Operating Plan.pdf

We are pleased to invite the geoscience community to participate in two thematic sessions on Cave and Karst Science at the upcoming Geological Society of America – Cordilleran Section Meeting.

Oral Presentations: This session provides an ideal platform for presenting cutting-edge research conducted in cave and karst systems of Mexico. We seek results that emphasize the critical need to protect the ecological, cultural, and scientific values of these fragile ecosystems. We particularly value binational collaborations (U.S.-Mexico), interdisciplinary projects, and community outreach initiatives. A key goal is to foster a dialogue on standardizing speleological research protocols in Mexico.

Poster Session: In recognition of the crucial work undertaken by speleological organizations, we invite submissions that highlight efforts in scientific outreach, community engagement, and speleological education within Mexico.

Let's leverage this opportunity to strengthen professional networks, share valuable knowledge, and advance the conservation of these invaluable subterranean environments.

We appreciate you sharing this announcement within your professional networks.

Position with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation

Position Description:

The Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage is currently hiring for two Karst Technicians.

The Karst Technicians will be responsible for:

• Surface inventories of cave and karst features.
• Biological inventories, exploration, photo documentation, and mapping of caves.
• Hydrological monitoring and delineation using dye trace methods.
• Report writing and data processing using Microsoft Access, ArcPro GIS, and other software.

Applications Open

Deadline: February 15, 2026

The William L. Wilson and Diane C. Wilson Scholarship in Karst Science includes a one-time award of $3,000. The scholarship is open to any student who is currently enrolled in, or has been accepted into, a master’s degree program at an institution of higher education in the United States.

Photo description (left to right): Visiting scientist Ángel A. García Jr from James Madison University, NCKRI Intern Matthew Kaspar, NCKRI Academic Director Dr. Daniel Jones, NCKRI Postdoc Dr. Margaret Furtner, and NCKRI Director Dr. Ben Tobin visit a cave with salt formations in Carlsbad, New Mexico.

Dr. Ángel Garcia visits NCKRI Headquarters

Dr. Ángel A. Garcia Jr., a professor from James Madison University came to New Mexico as an invited speaker for the NCKRI Seminar Series. Ángel trip began in Socorro to visit the NM Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources and present "Caves as Crossroads: Multidisciplinary Approaches to Cave and Karst Research" to faculty and students at New Mexico Tech. He then traveled south to visit NCKRI headquarters, to meet the NCKRI staff and learn more about the institute. NCKRI staff members and Ángel traveled to a local cave to discuss LIDAR and remote sensing research techniques and opportunities.

Photo description: Luc Carbonneau (far left) at the 2025 New Mexico Research Symposium with other presenters from the New Mexico Space Grant Fellows Oral Session.

New Mexico Grant Fellows Oral Session at the New Mexico Research Symposium 2025

Luc Carbonneau, a member of the Jones Geomicrobiology Lab presented "Constraining Mineralogy of Martian Analog Sulfates From the Quebradas Area, New Mexico" during the New Mexico Space Grant Fellows oral session at the New Mexico Research Symposium on November 15, 2025.

Fall Outreach Season

During the fall, there were nine education and outreach events that occurred in partnership with Inspired by Science that were held at NCKRI headquarter. These events brought over 400 visitors to NCKRI to learn STEM concepts while building connections with karst. Topics ranged from fluorescence to dissecting owl pellets.

Photo description: 1. NCKRI Intern Matthew Kaspar demonstrates infiltration during the STEM Experience on October 11, 2025. 2. During the Chemistry Workshop, families learned about karst aquifer contamination and dilution problems on November 3, 2025. 3. Things That Glow: Cave Edition was an activity created by NCKRI staff for the Glow Lab Workshop on October 31, 2025. The activity can be found in the Cave Week Toolkit.