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Category : SEPM

Posted : Tuesday, February 16, 2021
Edited By : Darin Biggs
Tuesday, April 20, 2021

SEPM's 2020 Society Records and New Council

Rebekah Grmela

Each year SEPM creates an Annual Report for the society, sharing organizational highlights, an overarching Director's Report, summarizing Society Awards and an audited Financial Report. We encourage you to take a look at this report to stay abreast of key information related to SEPM, as well as particular details that may be of interest to you. 

Several key areas of the report are highlighted below. You may also view the full report here

SEPM Governance and Council 

In 2020 SEPM’s Bylaw changes to Council terms became fully implemented with terms for councilor’s extended to three years and the President’ term to two years after a one-year term as President-Elect. Additionally, all terms begin on January 1st and end on December 31st of the year.

Newly Elected Council Members for 2021

  • President-Elect: Elizabeth Hajek (Pennsylvania State University, USA)
  • Early Career Councilor: Elisabeth Steel (Queen’s University, Canada)
  • International Councilor: Annette George (University of Western Australia, Australia)
  • Special Publications Editor: Jean Hsieh (Consultant, Canada)
  • SEPM Foundation President: Judith Totman Parrish (Emeritus, University of Idaho, USA)

Major Council Actions in 2020 (see the report for full list)

  • Action to cancel 2020 ISGC and reschedule
  • Action to support the evolution of The Sedimentary Record into full open access journal
  • Action to create ad hoc committee to evaluate SEPM DEI status and issues and recommend Council actions.
  • Action to create an ad hoc committee to write revisions to the SEPM Bylaws to extend voting privilege to more member types, to include student and associate membership categories.
  • Action to approve the creation of a proposed Planetary Sedimentary Geology Research Group

Journals

Both of our technical journals continued having great years although there have been some delays at Allen Press in processing manuscripts due the pandemic impact on their operations. The Journal of Sedimentary Research continues publishing top-quality papers under the guidance of the co-editors, Peter Burgess (University of Liverpool), Gary Hampton (Imperial College, London) and with Kathleen Marsaglia (California State University, Northridge) transitioning in to replace Gary. PALAIOS under the continuing editorship of Martin Zuschin (Universitat Wien) and Patrick Orr (University College, Dublin). SEPM journals continue to be available online via GeoScienceWorld (GSW), which continues to thrive. JSR is also part of AAPG-Datapages, while PALAIOS is also available in BioOne and JSTOR online aggregates. Both of the journals as well as an SEPM eBooks are within SEPM’s independent online publications site www.sepmonline.org. Journal issues are available individually in print at the SEPM Bookstore (https://sedimentary-geology-store.com/ ).

Special Publications 

Under the continued editorship of John-Paul Zonneveld, the special publications of SEPM continue to produce top of the line products. In 2020, a total of two new books were published. The pipeline of future books continues to look for new proposals. Online First, where new Special Publications will be published chapter by chapter online at the https://www.sepm.org/Online-First as each chapter continues to officially publish chapters as they are completed by the authors. After the last chapter is finalized the book is compiled and place for sale in the bookstore and processed to be online at www.sepmonline.org and GSW. Due to the pandemic the pathway to uploading new books online has encountered delays.

Additionally, SEPM is working with IAS to help manage the publication their continuing series of book publications. The first of which should come out in 2021.

Collaborations (AAPG, AGI, GSL, GSA, ANAPS, NACSN and IUGS)

In 2020, SEPM continued its long tradition of collaborating with multiple geoscience organizations. Although face to face meetings and thus SEPM’s onsite exhibit booths were all cancelled, SEPM did have virtual booths at the ACE and GSA meetings, although their impact as a new ‘thing’ is questionable and will continue to be evaluated. 

The Society continues to work with AAPG, GSA, GSL, IAS, SEPM Sections, and our Global Ambassadors to produce jointly sponsored conferences and publications where applicable. SEPM remains an official member of the American Geological Institute (AGI), the North American Commission on Stratigraphic Nomenclature (NACSN), the Association of North American Paleontological Societies (ANAPS), as well as an associated society with the International Union of Geologic Societies (IUGS).

What do you find most interesting about SEPM in 2020? Log in and comment below, or contact our team at digitalmedia@sepm.org