Welcome to the Geological Society of Minnesota
The Geological Society of Minnesota is a nonprofit educational organization in operation since 1938. Our mission has been to promote public interest and to supply educational support in the geological sciences. We sponsor free lectures and labs at the University of Minnesota, conduct statewide and regional field trips, hold classroom presentations for schools, maintain a media library, publish relevant information for public distribution, and maintain and expand upon a series of geological markers throughout the state.
GSM Seminars
GSM seminars with slide show presentations are free and open to the public. They are presented by leading professionals in their fields and are aimed at learners from high school to adult. A question-and-answer session follows each seminar. The labs, also free and open to the public, allow a hands-on learning experience and demonstrate the ideas and principles of geology and earth science. Live lectures and labs require no registration; just show up a few minutes early on the evening of the lecture. These lectures and labs are eligible for Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credits.
Except as noted, live lectures during winter/spring 2025 are Mondays at 7:00 PM CT on the University of Minnesota campus, Keller Hall, Room 3-230. A lecture with (V) following its title is an online virtual lecture. For these, free registration is required by non-members; the instructions are supplied with the lecture description.
The schedule of seminars and labs for winter/spring 2025 is here. For a printable version of our schedule of seminars and labs, click here. Our schedule is planned over 6 months in advance, so changes may occur. Always check this website shortly before each lecture for the latest seminar information.
Winter weather will come and snow might impact our lectures. The GSM will make any decision about cancelling or postponing a lecture due to inclement weather no later than 3:00 PM the day of the lecture. This information will be posted on this page. So check our home page shortly before each lecture in case there is a cancellation or a last-minute change. Also, we will e‐mail lecture postponement and cancellation information to our members.
Recordings of some past GSM lectures are available on the Geological Society of Minnesota YouTube channel. Subscribe to this channel for updates.
In-person only at U of Minnesota, Keller Hall, Room 3-230
Lecture start time 7:00 PM CT.
Summary: Rather than providing a detailed history of MGS, this talk focuses on current and future work as it relates to the collection and spatial interpretation of surface and subsurface data. Mapping tasks are called out specifically because they are fundamental to the MGS mission; maps and their associated databases provide the best understanding of what we know about the distribution of Minnesota’s rock and water resources. I would like to introduce you to current data collection and mapping methods at the Survey and speculate on how these methods might change in light of improved data collection, storage and analysis.
Biography:
Minnesota Geological Survey – 2024 to present
Minnesota Department of Health – 2019 to 2024
Minnesota Geological Survey – 1989 to 2019
While at the Health Department, Bob was a hydrologist supervisor in the Source Water Protection Unit. Prior to that, he was a senior scientist at the Minnesota Geological Survey, and adjunct faculty member in the Department of Earth Sciences and the Water Resources Science program - both at the University of Minnesota. His research interests are in aquifer characterization, groundwater chemistry and groundwater-surface water interaction. Bob has a Ph.D. in Water Resources Science from the University of Minnesota, M.S. in Geology the University of Minnesota, and B.A. in History from Carleton College.
About the Minnesota Geological Survey: MGS is a unit of the Newton Horace Winchell School of Earth Sciences in the University of Minnesota. The Survey is the University outreach center for the science and technology of earth resources in Minnesota. The Survey conducts basic and applied earth science research, conveys that information to the public through publications and service activities, and promotes earth science education. Minnesota is its exclusive focus.
Minnesota's Geology Markers
Discover Minnesota’s fascinating 3 billion years of geological history by visiting 70-plus geology markers placed around the state by the Geological Society of Minnesota since 1949. Observe and learn about a rift valley, volcanoes, agates, inland seas, glaciers, rivers, caves, sinkholes, iron mining, and more. Click Minnesota’s Geology Markers to see where these markers are located. You can see most markers from your car.
Field Trips
GSM conducts professionally guided geology field trips. These excursions visit locations not usually experienced by the casual traveler. Local field trips can be a few hours long, encompass a weekend, or last longer than a week. Find more information here.
GSM's Student Outreach
Speakers for metro area elementary schools are available through the Public Service Committee to help enrich the education of young learners, particularly the 2nd to 8th grade levels. Find more information here.
Membership
Membership in the society is open to anyone with an interest in geology. The benefits of membership include:
- The opportunity to meet others of who share an enthusiasm for learning and a curiosity for the natural world.
- The rewarding feeling of supporting a nonprofit organization dedicated to public education.
- GSM Newsletter - A quarterly publication contains announcements of upcoming activities, articles on the earth sciences, and GSM projects and activity reports. Past issues
- Extensive Media Library - GSM maintains a collection of more than 330 geological DVDs. These are available to the members at lectures or through the mail for a nominal rental fee. Catalog
- GSM Directory - This annual book is a handy resource and makes it easy to access the organization.