From the Chair

Dear colleagues and GEOC Division members,

The Division of Geochemistry (GEOC) has had a great 2024 so far. Many of our sessions have been filled and buzzing with discussion and conversation both in and out of the conference rooms and at our social/business meeting events. Our programming has been well received with a broad range of topics including biogeochemistry, intermediate and disordered phases, mineral-water interfacial geochemistry, crystallization, aggregation and dissolution processes, CO2 capture and storage, electro analytical chemistry, critical minerals, and geochemical and social implications of mining. The spring 2024 conference was our second conference that included a session dedicated to recognizing diversity in geochemistry; a diversity session is also planned for Spring 2025. Our co-sponsored aquatic redox chemistry session with ENVR was also well attended in Spring 2024 and we look forward to future joint sessions with our colleagues in ENVR.

This year we have sought opportunities to increase representation of undergraduate participation through virtual sessions and undergraduate symposia. In addition, we continue to honor many of our outstanding geochemists through special symposia and the Geochemical Medal. In the spring we honored Michael L. Machesky and in the Fall 2024 meeting we honored the career of George Luther. This coming spring, we will honor Janet Hering with the 2025 ACS Geochemistry Division Medal.

In 2024, we also honored 4 early-career scientists and 8 (under)graduate students with travel awards. We recently formed a committee to expand the number of geochemistry awards that will be offered by the geochemistry division to recognize the many outstanding geochemists in the field at various career stages. If you are interested in being part of the new awards committee or have an interest in being more involved in the division governance, please contact me.

Lynn Katz

ACS GEOC Division Chair