Hello GAC Paleo Division Members, News, news, news! After a quiet period during the pandemic, the GAC Paleontology Division is gearing up for some exciting things. This newsletter provides a few insights into the some of upcoming events. Please feel free to share this information with colleagues and/or students.
Introduction to the 2022 PD Executive
CPC 2022! September 21-23rd, 2022
New PD Award for Avocational Paleontologists
GAC-MAC 2022 Palaeontology Sessions
Job Opportunity at Joggins Fossil Institute
1. Introduction to the 2022 Executive
There are new faces on the Palaeontology Division Executive! The PD Executive for 2022 is:
Chair: Emily Bamforth Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum E-mail: ebamforth@dinomuseum.ca Past-Chair: Marc Laflamme University of Toronto Mississauga E-Mail: marc.laflamme@utoronto.ca Treasurer: Keith Dewing Geological Survey of Canada Email: keith.dewing@NRCan-RNCan.gc.ca Councillor 1: Kimberley Bell PetroStrat Canada Ltd. E-mail: kimberley.bell@petrostrat.com Councillor 2: Meagan Gilbert Saskatchewan Ministry of Energy and Resources E-mail: meagan.gilbert@gov.sk.ca Councillor 3: Michael Cuggy University of Saskatchewan Michael.cuggy@usask.ca Publications Co-ordinator: Sandy McCracken Geological Survey of Canada E-mail: sandy.mccracken@NRCan-RNCan.gc.ca Webmaster: Brittany Laing University of Saskatchewan E-mail: brittany.a.laing@gmail.com
2. Mark your calendars! Canadian Palaeontology Conference (CPC) 2022
After being unable to host CPC for two years due to COVID-19, we are very excited to announce that we will be hosting our first ever virtual CPC! The conference will be held via Zoom September 21st-23rd. There will be NO FEE to attend for students and PD members. Please keep an eye out for the First Circular, which will be sent out at the end of May.
NOTE: These dates have changed! The conference now runs from October 20th to the 22nd. See our latest blog post here.
Help spread the word!
We are currently looking for a great CPC 2022 logo. If you know someone into graphic design and/or paleoart who might be interested in designing one, please have them contact curator@dinomuseum.ca for details.
New Paleontology Division Award for Avocational (‘Amateur’) Paleontologists
Great discoveries are made, and great things are done, by people who have no formal training in paleontology but who are passionate about ancient life, fossils, and the preservation of fossil sites. Whether it is donating a fossil collection to an institution, protecting and/or maintaining a site of paleontological importance, volunteering in fossil prep or outreach, or fundraising to build a fossil museum, avocational paleontologists play a huge role in the Canadian palaeontology community. The PD Division has created a new award to recognizes the role of avocational paleontology in Canada. This new, yet unnamed, award will recognize and celebrate the contributions of non-professional paleontologists to the field, helping to send the message that avocational palaeologists of are all ages are important and valued. The new Avocational Paleontologist Award will be the fourth award offered by the Division, along with the Billings Medal for Lifetime Achievement, the Pikaia Award for Early Career Researchers, and the Thomas E. Bolton Award for an exceptional student presentation at CPC. The awards will be offered in a three-year cycle, excepting the Bolton Award which will be awarded annually at CPC. In 2022, we are calling for applications for the Avocational Paleontologist Award. Please keep your eyes open for the Call for Nominations, which will be sent out next month.
Joggins Fossil Institute Seeking a Curator
Nikole Bingham-Koslowski has asked us to spread the word that the Joggins Fossil Institute in Nova Scotia is seeking a new curator. Details can be found on their website: https://jogginsfossilcliffs.net/jobs/2022/curator.php
GAC-MAC 2022
For those planning on attended GAC-MAC 2022 Annual Meeting in Halifax in May 15-18th, 2022, a reminder of the Paleontology Sessions that will be hosted: SS-26 (Tuesday the 17th, 8am-12pm): Dynamic Transitions in Earth’s Proterozoic Surface Environments and Biosphere Moderated by Leslie J. Robbins, Michael G. Babechuk and Kurt O. Konhauser SS-27 (Monday the 16th, 8am-12pm): Life and Environments Through Time Moderated by Katie Maloney and Brandt Gibson There will also be a DIVISION SNACK HOUR, tentatively planned for 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM on Tuesday, May 17, location TBD. The organizers would like to get an idea of numbers, so they know much food to order. If you are attending GAC-MAC this year and would like to attend, please let Colin Sproat (c.sproat@usask.ca) know ASAP. For more information on these sessions and the GAC-MAC meeting, check out the website: https://halifax2022.atlanticgeosciencesociety.ca/ Note that GAC-MAC 2022 will be a hybrid in-person/ virtual meeting. ** Dr. Emily L. Bamforth
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