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The Call for Abstracts recently opened for the Geological Society of America (GSA) Connects 2025 meeting in San Antonio, Texas, October 19-22, 2025. NCKRI and the GSA Karst Division are endorsing several sessions this year.
T107. Cave and Karst Biogeochemistry, on Earth and Beyond
Session Advocates: Laura Rodriguez, Anika Baloun, Mackenzie Best, Evan Bowen, Joseph Hoberg, Daniel Jones
Description: We welcome submissions on the biogeochemistry and astrobiology of caves and karst features, including but not limited to microbe-mineral interactions, subsurface habitability, subterranean ecosystems, and microbial ecology.
Categories: Karst; Geobiology and Geomicrobiology; Engineering Geology
T108. Communicating Karst: Success, Challenges and New Ideas to Translate Scientific Discoveries to Broad Audiences
Session Advocates: Devra Willingham, Raquel Lugo
Description: This session explores techniques, strategies and programs that communicate karst concepts, hazards, sensitivity, processes, interrelations with other fields or translating scientific discoveries to broad audiences.
Categories: Karst; Geoscience Information/Communication; Geoscience Education
T109. Hypogene Speleogenesis: An Overview of Research in Memory of Dr. Alexander Klimchouk
Session Advocates: Geary Schindel, George Veni
Description: This session will present an overview of current hydrogeological and morphogenetic research on hypogene speleogenesis, its identification and occurrence, and effective resource management.
Categories: Karst; Hydrogeology; Environmental Geoscience
T110. Karst Hazards and Monitoring
Session Advocates: Daniel Jones, Kashif Mahmud, Lewis Land
Description: Hazards (e.g., sinkholes, pollution, radon, development) and monitoring approaches (e.g., GIS applications, historical data analyses) in karst landscapes, including technical applications (e.g., LiDAR, 3D scanning, geodatabase development) and management implications (resource management, education, policy, regulation).
Categories: Karst; Engineering Geology
T111. Karst Hydrology and Hydrogeology
Session Advocates: Jeanne Lambert Sumrall, Kashif Mahmud, Natasha Sekhon, Lewis Land, Daniel Jones
Description: This session covers fundamental aspects of fluid-rock interactions within karst landscapes, including geologic, hydrogeologic, and hydrologic investigations. Appropriate topics range from dye tracing and aquifer processes to surface-subsurface hydrologic interactions and quantitative modeling.
Categories: Karst; Hydrogeology
T112. Karst Sedimentary, Paleoclimate, and Historical Records
Session Advocates: Natasha Sekhon, Daniel Jones, Jeanne Lambert Sumrall
Description: Cave deposits (sediments, speleothems, tufa, etc.), karst environmental records (sedimentary, carbonate stratigraphy, etc.), and geoarchaeological and historical investigations to interpret past climates, landscapes, extreme events, and land-use histories, and to model or predict future changes.
Categories: Karst; Paleoclimatology/Paleoceanography; Geochronology
T113. Monitoring the Vadose Zone in Karst: Advancing Studies of Paleoclimatology, Hydrogeology, and Biogeochemical Cycling
Session Advocates: Alexander Janelle, Mielle Lee
Description: This session will explore monitoring of the unsaturated zone of karst systems. We encourage abstracts with broader impacts including improved water resource management, biogeochemical cycling, and proxy system modeling for paleoclimate studies.
Categories: Karst; Hydrogeology; Environmental Geoscience
T114. New Frontiers in Cave and Karst Science
Session Advocates: Jeanne Lambert Sumrall, Patricia N. Kambesis, Natasha Sekhon, Sierra Heimel, Joshua Sebree
Description: We encourage submissions in any field of cave and karst science, with special emphasis on novel techniques, interdisciplinary approaches, and contributions from diverse early career researchers (students, postdocs, and faculty).
Categories: Karst; Hydrogeology; Geobiology and Geomicrobiology
T115. Understanding Karst Aquifer Complexity Using Innovative Tracers and New Technologies
Session Advocates: MaryLynn Musgrove, Stephen P. Opsahl
Description: We welcome submissions applying innovative tracers and new technologies to investigate karst aquifers, such as complex interactions between surface water and groundwater, recharge processes, flow pathways, sediment transport, sustainability, and susceptibility to contaminants.
Categories: Karst; Hydrogeology; Geochemistry
T105. Recent Investigations of the Hydrogeology Edwards (Balcones Fault Zone) Aquifer, the Trinity (Hill Country) Aquifer, and Their Interactions, South-Central Texas
Session Advocates: F. Paul Bertetti, Yongli Gao, Brian Smith, Brian Hunt
Description: Recent research into the hydrogeological characteristics of the Edwards (Balcones Fault Zone) and/or Trinity (Hill Country) aquifers, south-central Texas, including their inter-aquifer connections, vulnerability, and prospects for long-term sustainability given changes in population, land use, and climate of the region.
Categories: Hydrogeology; Karst
T103. Quantifying Groundwater Recharge Processes: From Atmosphere to Soils to Aquifers
Session Advocates: Marcus Gary, Michael Young, Todd Caldwell, Todd Halihan
Description: This session focuses on hydrologic processes beginning with precipitation, ET and climate, through soils and the vadose zone, ending in groundwater recharge. We invite talks that address these interesting and complex processes of aquifer recharge.
Categories: Hydrogeology; Soils and Soil Processes; Karst
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