Thursday, March 24, 2011

Wilmington, N.C. - The Department of Geography and Geology at the University of North Carolina Wilmington is hosting the 60th annual meeting of the Southeastern Section of the Geological Society of America. The annual meeting, the first of its kind at the newly opened Wilmington Convention Center, includes symposia, topical sessions, workshops and field trips. The theme of the meeting is "Exploration to exploitation: Geosciences role in natural resource stewardship."

Media are invited to attend and cover any sessions of the conference. Interviews available with conference organizers. Presentations, exhibits and speakers will continue tomorrow, March 25, from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. with topics ranging from sea level rise and climate change to watershed processes and natural resources.

"This conference is excellent exposure for our area, UNCW and the students and faculty that are participating in the event," said Richard Laws, chair of the organization committee and professor at UNCW. "It brings together people working on similar types of geological and environmental problems in the region and gives them an opportunity to brainstorm ways to solve these problems."

The keynote speaker for the event is Duke University professor William G. Ross. A native of Marion, N.C., Ross is an attorney specializing in environmental law. Former secretary of the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources, Ross has been active in organizations dedicated to natural resource conservation and environmental protection throughout N.C. His keynote speech, which will be given tonight, March 24 at 6 p.m., is entitled "One person's perspective on the use of sound geological principles in natural resource stewardship."

Media Contact:
Emily Jones, Marketing and Communications, 910.962.3171 or jonesel@uncw.edu