Geologists from across Canada are going “back to where it began,” as Queen’s University’s Department of Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering hosts the Geological Association of Canada (GAC)/Mineralogical Association of Canada (MAC) Annual Meeting May 14-18.

It’s an auspicious year for the organizations as the conference coincides with the 175th anniversary of the founding of the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) in Kingston. The GSC, Canada’s oldest scientific agency, was established by the legislature of the Province of Canada in 1842, in Kingston. Queen’s University is also celebrating its 175^th anniversary and the Geological Association of Canada is marking 70 years.

The annual meeting offers a mix of technical sessions, field trips, workshops and social events. Highlights include three events featuring Queen’s faculty members:

• a GSC plenary address by Professor Emeritus Ray Price on the evolution of the GSC, on Tuesday starting at 11:15 am 
• a public lecture by E.R. Ward Neale Medal recipient Guy Narbonne regarding his work at Mistaken Point, Nfld., the newest UNESCO World Heritage Site, on Wednesday at 1 pm
• an address by Peacock Medalist Heather Jamieson, at 3:30 pm. Each event takes place at the Biosciences Auditorium

On Saturday, the Miller Museum of Geology is hosting a hands-on training workshop to help local teachers with their teaching of earth sciences in the classroom.

The full schedule of events is available on the conference website.