Call for Abstracts 18th Sinkhole Conference

Deadline: March 20, 2026

The Multidisciplinary Conferences on Sinkholes and the Engineering and Environmental Impacts of Karst has put out a call for abstracts. 

https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/sinkhole_2026/

The conference accepts abstracts from a wide range of topics related to karst problems including remote sensing, resource monitoring, subsurface remediation, geohazard mitigation, groundwater contamination, geomorphology, and much more.

To learn more and register for the conference go to: Sinkholeconference.com

Call for Proposals GSA Connects 2026

Deadline: February 19, 2026

This year's GSA Connects meeting will take place in Denver, Colorado from Sunday, October 11 to Wednesday, October 14, 2026. For more information go to: https://gsameetings.secure-platform.com/connects26/

Field Safety Training and Research Opportunities

The ADVANCEing FieldSafety program consists of three main components: 

• A 7-module online course that focuses on creating a safe field environment, fostering a safe field culture, and building teams from varied backgrounds. 
• Two 90-minute, interactive online workshops—one that provides practice in bystander intervention strategies and another that models how to compose norms agreements. 
• A toolkit of resources such as checklists, fillable documents, and implementation guides that can be customized for a wide range of field contexts. 

ADVANCEing FieldSafety is open to all, from individuals to full field teams, and welcomes scientists of all career stages, from students to seasoned field researchers. If you are part of a field team and are interested in having your team participate in ADVANCEing FieldSafety, please consider also having your team take part in the AFS research component, which aims to measure the effectiveness of the AFS program and its impact on field culture. As part of this research, field teams will complete surveys and participate in interviews or focus groups. In return, they receive free access to the full AFS program, professional development in field safety and leadership, research incentives (up to $65), and an ADVANCEing FieldSafety certificate. Visit the AFS research and evaluation page to learn more and to sign up. Now is the perfect time to prepare for your next field season. 

It is with great pleasure that the FSE announces the next call for Cave Protection projects to receive the Label “EuroSpeleo Protection 2026” from the ECPC (the European Cave Protection Commission of the FSE).

The EuroSpeleo Protection Label is a European Speleological award managed by the ECPC, financed by the FSE budget. The EuroSpeleo Protection Label will help to promote amongst the speleological clubs of Europe, Cave Protection activities that are designed in an integrated ecological way, taking into account EU environmental directives, the principles of administration of the Natura 2000 sites and the IUCN Guidelines on caves and karst protection.

What kind of projects can apply?

The EuroSpeleo Protection Label will be awarded every year to one unique Cave Protection project. A European speleological jury established by the ECPC Board will make the selection. Any project aiming at protecting caves developed by a club, a local committee or a national commission from a member of the FSE can apply.

What are the criteria to receive the FSE EuroSpeleo Protection Label and what is the prize?

There is no need for participation of cavers from different countries, but the application should be a quality project and the broadcasting of the project presentation and results should be made in a spirit that can be reproduced in other European regions and countries. The application should be sent to protection@eurospeleo.eu before 30th of April 2026, in English language.

The project must receive the approval from its national speleological organization, i.e. a letter of support from the national organization, member of the FSE.

The reward for the label 2026 is 800.- EUR plus a lamp set from our FSE-sponsor Aventure-Verticale.

Please refer to the ESPL-Guidelines and Application Form published on the FSE site at: https://www.eurospeleo.eu/ECPC/espl/

Deadline: April 14, 2026

Application Link



Application Criteria

To Learn More

Investigating Groundwater Using Modeling and Remote Sensing in the Grand Canyon

The postdoctoral scholar will conduct research to quantify how groundwater flow dynamics behave and change over time. The postdoctoral scholar will work with extensive remote sensing data including airborne lidar and satellite images along with terrestrial lidar data from caves to map, monitor, and model springs in the canyon. The postdoctoral scholar will collaborate with an interdisciplinary team of hydrologists, ecologists, and remote sensing scientists. The position will be based in beautiful Flagstaff, AZ.

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.

Application Deadline:

February 15, 2026

To learn more:

https://www.scientistsinparks.org/

Four NCKRI staff members (Dan Jones, Maggie Furtner, Andy Armstrong, and Ben Tobin) attended two events as part of the New Mexico State Legislative session in January. Dan Jones participated in New Mexico Tech Day, while all four attended the New Mexico Tech Legislative Reception and participated in Earth Science Day at the Legislature. During Earth Science Day, the team interacted with hundreds of people interested in understanding caves and karst, ranging from middle and high school students to state politicians and the local community.

Visiting Scientist Leslie Kirkes

Leslie Kirkes came to NCKRI headquarters to collect and process samples as part of her Ph.D. research on water sources, microbes, and geochemistry at Nash Draw, a karst valley outside of Carlsbad, New Mexico. Leslie is earning her doctorate at NMT with Dr. Rachel Coyte, and works as a hydrologist with Sandia National Laboratories in Carlsbad. Two other NCKRI staff, Andy Armstrong and Dr. Maggie Furtner, assisted her and Dr. Dan Jones with sample collection.