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In this Issue From the Chair

I’m pleased to introduce the Spring 2018 issue of the GeoPRISMS
newsletter. As has been the case for the past few years, the Spring
Message from the edition will be distributed in print and be available online,
Chair & NSF Updates while the Fall issue remains electronic only. We are fortunate to
have an exciting set of articles for the current edition, featuring
2 several short summaries of ongoing and upcoming projects at
the New Zealand primary site. This issue also includes a number
of updates on Fall 2017 AGU mini-workshops and student awards, descriptions of newly
funded GeoPRISMS projects, and announcements about upcoming opportunities.
GeoPRISMS Photo The past year has been an active time for the office and the GeoPRISMS Community. At
Contest Winner the Fall AGU meeting in New Orleans, we sponsored three mini-workshops (see reports
on page 40 of this issue) and hosted a well-attended townhall event. The meeting was
4 also marked by numerous special sessions of interest to the GeoPRISMS Community.
The Spring 2018 GeoPRISMS Steering and Oversight Committee then held its annual
meeting in early February at NSF’s new headquarters in Alexandria, VA, with much of
the discussion focused on facilitation of upcoming synthesis and integration efforts,
Science Spotlight - New identification of future directions, and laying the groundwork for the program’s legacy.
Zealand Primary Site
I’d like to thank the GeoPRISMS Steering and Oversight Committee (GSOC; see p. 46
6 of this issue) for their continued contributions to our science, planning, and outreach
activities. In particular I’d like to extend thanks to Kerry Key (LDEO) and Sarah Penniston-
Dorland (Univ. Maryland), who are rotating off of the GSOC this year, for their efforts
on behalf of the program over the past three-plus years. I’m also pleased to introduce two
Status Report on the new members of the GSOC who will join the committee this summer: Emily Rowland
GeoPRISMS Data (Univ. Washington) and Mark Caddick (Va. Tech).
Portal The Distinguished Lecture Program remains an important venue for outreach,
32 engagement, and dissemination of GeoPRISMS science to universities, two and four-year
colleges, and museums across the U.S. Thanks to speakers Esteban Gazel, Heather Savage,
and Brandon Schmandt, who have all completed highly successful two year tours, and to
Distinguished Cindy Ebinger who will serve as a lecturer for a second year beginning this fall. I am also
Lectureship Program excited to announce three new speakers who will begin their tours this fall: Jaime Barnes
2018-2019 (UT Austin), Anne Bécel (LDEO), and Abhijit Ghosh (UC Riverside).
39 I look forward to the next several months as we prepare for AGU events, including
mini-workshops and our community forum, in yet another new location. We are also
moving forward with planning of a major Theoretical and Experimental Institute focused
on cross-cutting themes that span both the RIE and SCD initiatives, to be held in San
GeoPRISMS at AGU: Antonio, TX in February of 2019 (see meeting announcement on page 47 of this issue).
Mini-Workshop This important meeting will focus on defining advances and emerging opportunities, and
Reports & Student shaping the legacy of the GeoPRISMS and MARGINS programs. The meeting will be an
Prize exciting chance to develop connections across primary sites and between the rifting and
40 subduction initiatives, and should have great impact on shaping future directions for our
community. I hope to see you at one of these upcoming events!

Demian Saffer
Chair, GeoPRISMS Program

The GeoPRISMS Newsletter is published Cover Photograph:
twice a year and is designed to provide to the View of Mount Nguarahoe along the Tongariro Crossing.
GeoPRISMS community summaries of recent Photo credit: Kari Cooper.
GeoPRISMS activities and meetings, synthesis Newsletter Production:
articles, editorials, and discussion of science Anaïs Férot
opportunities. Archives of the Newsletter are info@geoprisms.org | www.geoprisms.org
available on the GeoPRISMS website.