Best Student Map Competition

Students study rocks during field camp
Abi Howe Hastillo, American Geological Institute

As part of Geologic Map Day (October 18, 2019) and Earth Science Week (October 13-19, 2019, the U.S. Geological Survey invited university-level students to enter its 2019 Best Student Geologic Map Competition. The contest will be judged at the Geological Society of America’s Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, September 22-25, 2019.

The U.S. Geological Survey, in collaboration with AGI, GSA, GSA Foundation, Association of American State Geologists, American Institute of Professional Geologists, and the Journal of Maps, is proud to be hosting  the 7th annual Best Student Geologic Map Competition at the GSA Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona. The competition will highlight student research from around the world that utilizes field mapping and the creation of geologic maps as a major component.

The competition is open to all students, at any level of their academic career (B.S., M.S., or Ph.D.), who have created a geologic map through their recent and substantial field work.  

Students may enter the competition by submitting their abstracts by June 25, 2019 at 11:59pm PDT.

The top three student geologic maps will be selected for recognition and awards at a special judging session at the GSA Annual Meeting. An official announcement will be made on the GSA website, GSA Today and GSA Connection, AGI Spectrum, and the USGS website.

Awards:

  • The First place awardee will receive a Brunton Compass (sponsored by AASG), along with a limited run opportunity in the Journal of Maps
  • The Second place student will receive a rock-hammer and hand lens sponsored by the AIPG.
  • The Third place student will receive a GSA publication (book, fieldtrip guide, or memoir) sponsored by the GSA Foundation.
Additionally, all winners will receive a Certificate of Recognition, along with an offer to publish their map in the Student Edition of the Journal of Maps.
For more information, visit the GSA website.

2018 Geologic Map Contest Winners:

2018 First Place

Sara Stotter, University of Montana
DETERMINING PRECAMBRIAN CRUSTAL ARCHITECTURE OF THE NORTHWEST MARGIN OF THE ARCHEAN WYOMING PROVINCE IN THE RUBY RANGE, SW MONTANA: MAPPING OF THE MINE GULCH 7.5' QUADRANGLE  
http://hs.umt.edu/hs/images/stories/sara-stotter3
 
 

2018 Second Place

Alexis Del Pilar-Martinez, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
GEOLOGY OF SOUTHERN MESA CENTRAL OF MEXICO: AN EXAMPLE OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL DEFORMATION IN THE OLIGOCENE
 

2018 Third Place

Andrea Richardson, Vanderbilt University
GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE NORTHEASTERN UNICOI AND NORTHWESTERN IRON MOUNTAIN GAP QUADRANGLES, TENNESSEE APPALACHIANS
 
 

2017 Geologic Map Contest Winners:

2017 First Place

Sarah VanderMeer, Western Michigan University:
SURFICIAL GEOLOGY OF PICTURED ROCKS NATIONAL LAKESHORE, MICHIGAN – INDIAN TOWN, MELSTRAND, WOOD ISLAND SE, GRAND PORTAL POINT, TRAPPERS LAKE, AU SABLE POINT SW, AU SABLE POINT SE, AU SABLE POINT, GRAND SABLE LAKE, AND GRAND MARAIS 7.5 MINUTE QUADRANGLES
 
2017 Best Student Geologic Map Contest 1st Place Winner

2017 Second Place

James Mauch, Utah State University
MAPPING OF MOAB AND SPANISH VALLEYS TO EXPLORE SUBSIDENCE PATTERNS IN A QUATERNARY SALT GRABEN
 
2017 Best Student Geologic Map Contest 2nd Place

2017 Third Place

Sylvia Nicovich, Montana State University
GEOLOGIC MAP OF ALLUVIAL FANS ALONG THE ZAPATA AND BLANCA SECTIONS OF THE NORTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO RANGE-FRONT FAULT SYSTEM, SOUTH-CENTRAL COLORADO
 
2017 Best Student Geologic Map Contest 3rd Place

2016 Geologic Map Contest Winners:

2016 First Place

Ryan Anderson, Washington State University
 
2016 Best Student Geologic Map Contest 1st Place Winner

2016 Second Place

Andrew Sadowski, University of Nevada, Reno
 
2016 Best Student Geologic Map Contest 2nd Place Winner

2016 Third Place

Mary Kate Fidler, University of California, Santa Barbara

2016 Best Student Geologic Map Contest 3rd Place

2015 Geologic Map Contest Winners:

2015 First Place

Paul "Vade" Scruggs, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

2015 Second Place

Vincent Cunningham, College of William and Mary

2015 Third Place

Robyn Daniels, University of Missouri, Kansas City

2015 Best Student Geologic Map Contest Group Photo

 

2014 Geologic Map Contest Winners:

2014 First Place

Chad W. Carlson, University of Nevada, Reno
GEOLOGIC MAPPING AT THE NORTHERN TERMINUS OF THE CENTRAL WALKER LANE, WESTERN NEVADA: KINEMATICS AND STRAIN TRANSFER MECHANISMS IN AN EVOLVING TRANSFORM PLATE BOUNDARY

2014 Second Place

Russel V. DiFiori, University of Nevada, Reno
STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF GOLD MINERALIZATION IN THE SOUTHERN EUREKA MINING DISTRICT, NEVADA: A PREDICTIVE STRUCTURAL SETTING FOR CARLIN-TYPE GOLD DEPOSITS

2014 Best Student Geologic Map Contest 2nd Place

2014 Third Place

Joel H. Edwards, University of Nevada, Reno
STRUCTURAL CONTROLS AND PRELIMINARY GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE NEAL HOT SPRINGS GEOTHERMAL AREA, MALHEUR COUNTY, OREGON

2014 Best Student Geologic Map Contest 3rd Place

2013 Geologic Map Contest Winners:

2013 First Place

Robert Mahon, University of Wyoming (MS Geology)
EDMAP GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE SADDLE PEAK HILLS 7.5’ QUADRANGLE, DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK, SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
 
2013 Best Student Geologic Map Contest 1st Place

2013 Second Place

Kent Walters, University of Cincinnati (MS Glacial Geology)
GLACIAL GEOMORPHOLOGY OF CENTRAL UPPER PENINSULA OF MICHIGAN, USA
 

2013 Third Place

Jens-Erik Lund Snee, Stanford University (MS Geology)
1:24,000 SCALE GEOLOGIC MAPPING OF CENOZOIC UNITES IN HUNTINGTON VALLEY AND THE EASTERN PINON RANGE, ELK COUNTY, NEVADA
 
2013 Best Student Geologic Map Contest 3rd Place