NAGT Activities at the 2026 GSA Annual Meeting
NAGT is pleased to sponsor a variety of sessions, workshops, short courses, and meetings at the 2026 Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America held in Denver, Colorado, from October 11-14, 2026. Please consider attending the following sessions highlighting key issues of importance to geoscience educators at all levels. For those that will be onsite in Denver, we will have information at the NAGT booth. More information about NAGT activities at GSA will be added to this page as it becomes available.
Jump down to: NAGT Booth | NAGT Meetings | Socials & Receptions | Topical Sessions
Partner Association Registration Discount
As a partner organization to GSA, NAGT members receive an exclusive 15% discount on registration for the GSA Connects meeting. To receive your discount, enter the code CONNECTS26_NAGT when registering for the meeting. As this is a member benefit, we ask that you do not share this code with others.
NAGT Booth
Visit us at booth #801 in the exhibit hall! The NAGT booth will be open all week. Interested in helping staff the NAGT booth? Contact Brianna Douglas at bdouglas@carleton.edu if you're interested in volunteering.
Informal "NAGTea" Gatherings
Visit the NAGT booth for informal gatherings around a variety of topics! Hot water, tea, and mugs will be available—or bring your own! Gatherings will happen at the table at the NAGT booth or adjacent tables in the exhibit hall, as needed. These will be scheduled closer to the conference.
Association Business Meetings
NAGT meetings, including the annual business meeting of the association and meetings for each Division, will be held virtually around the time of GSA. These meetings are open to all NAGT members and provide opportunities to hear about NAGT activities in the past year and plans for the future. Keep an eye out for scheduling details as they become available. We hope you will join us.
Virtual NAGT, GSA GED, GeoCUR Joint Awards Ceremony
Date & Time: 25 September 2026, 12 PT / 1 MT / 2 CT / 3 ET
Join NAGT, the GSA Geoscience Education Division, and CUR to celebrate the achievements and contributions of our community. We look forward to honoring our awardees.
NAGT Council and Annual Business Meeting
Date & Time: Details coming soon
All members are invited to attend the NAGT Council and Annual Business Meeting to hear about the past year at NAGT and what we have planned for next year.
Two-Year College Division (Geo2YC) Business Meeting
Date & Time: Details coming soon
Join NAGT Geo2YC for their annual Division business meeting. All members are invited to attend.
Geoscience Education Research (GER) Division Business Meeting
Date & Time: Details coming soon
Join NAGT GER for their annual Division business meeting. All members are invited to attend.
Teacher Education Division (TED) Business Meeting
Date & Time: Details coming soon
Join NAGT TED for their annual Division business meeting. All members are invited to attend.
Socials and Receptions
Are you hosting a geoscience education-related reception? Contact Monica Bruckner (mbruckne@carleton.edu) to get your event added to this page.
Geoscience Education Division Educators' Reception
Join NAGT and the GSA Education Division for an evening of socialization, networking, and reconnection. Open to all conference attendees.
NAGT-Sponsored Topical Sessions
NAGT is proud to endorse a robust lineup of topical sessions at the 2026 Annual Meeting.
Sunday, October 11
Geoscience Research Poster Showcase by 2YC and 4YCU Undergraduate Students
Date & Time: Sunday, 11 October - 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Session Advocates: Adrianne Leinbach, Rebecca Schmeisser McKean, Stephanie Rollins, Kelsey L. Druce, Gretchen L. Miller
Endorsers: GSA Geoscience Education Division, National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT), American Geophysical Union (AGU) , Seismological Society of America (SSA) , NAGT Geoscience Two-Year College Division (Geo2YC)
Description: This session is designed for two-year college (2YC) and four-year college and university (4YCU) students presenting research posters in any sub-discipline of geoscience.
Iris Moreno Totten Research in Geoscience Education Session
Date & Time:Sunday, 11 October - 1:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Session Advocates: Nicholas Soltis, Elizabeth Kenderes
Endorsers: GSA Geoscience Education Division, National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT)
Description: This session will highlight empirical research being done in the field of geoscience education. Early career and student presenters will be considered for the Geoscience Education Division's Totten Award.
Monday, October 12
The Astro-Geoheritage of the Solar System: Past Explorations and Future Considerations
Date & Time: Monday, 12 October - 8:00 AM - 10:10 AM
Session Advocates: Eric J. Pyle, Nicholas Lang
Endorsers: GSA History, Philosophy, and Geoheritage Division , GSA Planetary Geology Division , GSA Geoscience Education Division, GSA Geology and Society Division , National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT)
Description: Geoheritage is a construct that embeds geoscience within historical, educational, and aesthetic contexts. Astro-geoheritage extends this to the development of planetary geologic mapping, terrestrial analogues, and how people are prepared to interact with non-terrestrial environments.
Diversifying Geoscience Education Across the Academic Playing Field: Using Creative Methods to Foster the Current and Next Generations of Geoscience Professionals
Date & Time: Monday, 12 October - 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Session Advocates: Leonard M. Melzer, Steven J. Jaret, Erin Potter, Maya Pincus
Endorsers: GSA Geoscience Education Division, NAGT Teacher Education Division (TED)
Description: A wide range of geoscience educators across several disciplines will share a multitude of diverse and innovative ideas regarding lesson plans, projects, and pedagogical techniques best suited for today's ever-changing classrooms.
Tuesday, October 13
Diversifying Geoscience Education Across the Academic Playing Field: Using Creative Methods to Foster the Current and Next Generations of Geoscience Professionals
Date & Time: Tuesday, 13 October - 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM & 1:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Session Advocates: Leonard M. Melzer, Steven J. Jaret, Erin Potter, Maya Pincus
Endorsers: GSA Geoscience Education Division, NAGT Teacher Education Division (TED)
Description: A wide range of geoscience educators across several disciplines will share a multitude of diverse and innovative ideas regarding lesson plans, projects, and pedagogical techniques best suited for today's ever-changing classrooms.
Planetary Exploration and Education: How We Learn About Our Solar System and Beyond
Date & Time: Tuesday, 13 October - 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Session Advocates: Nicholas Lang
Endorsers: GSA Planetary Geology Division , GSA Geoscience Education Division, National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT), American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Description: This session links how we teach and learn about the solar system to how we have gained that information (i.e., space missions). Descriptions of teaching activities/courses, and strategies for working with students are encouraged.
Technology and tools for 3D visualization of field and lab data in teaching and research
Date & Time: Tuesday, 13 October - 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM (Oral) & 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM (Posters)
Session Advocates: Alyssa L. Abbey, Andrew K. Laskowski, Hannah J. Blatchford, Rory McFadden
Endorsers: GSA Geoscience Education Division, GSA Structural Geology and Tectonics Division , National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT), The California Geotechnical Engineering Association
Description: We invite abstracts from educators and researchers who use innovative tools and apps (e.g., Visible Geology, Touch GIS, StraboSpot, FieldMove, MTEX, SketchFab) for 3D visualization of field or lab data and strengthening spatial thinking skills.
Making Sense of Methodologies and Theoretical Frameworks in Geoscience Education Research
Date & Time: Tuesday, 13 October - 1:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Session Advocates: Katherine Ryker, Caitlin Callahan, , Lydia Sandefur, Larry Collins
Endorsers: National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT), The California Geotechnical Engineering Association
Description: Methods and theoretical frameworks from within and outside of GER shape our field. Presenters are encouraged to highlight their decision-making process in research studies. New approaches and applications of established methods/frameworks are also welcome.
Wednesday, October 14
Developing and Assessing Workforce Skills in Geoscience Courses and Programs
Date & Time: Wednesday, 14 October - 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Session Advocates: Stacy Yager, Karen Viskupic
Endorsers: GSA Geoscience Education Division, National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT), NAGT Geoscience Education Research Division (GER), NAGT Geoscience Two-Year College Division (Geo2YC), NAGT Teacher Education Division (TED), The California Geotechnical Engineering Association, Association of American State Geologists (AASG)
Description: We invite abstracts from research studies aimed at understanding how best to develop and assess workforce skills in geoscience undergraduate and/or graduate students. Studies may focus on specific skills, interventions, industry sectors, or activities.