The Society for Sedimentary Geology is an international not-for-profit, scientific society based in

Oklahoma Oklahoma (; Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a state in the South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the north, Missouri on the northeast, Arkansas on the east, New ...

. It is commonly referred to by its acronym SEPM, which refers to its former name, the Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists. The Society’s reason for being is to disseminate scientific information on

sedimentology Sedimentology encompasses the study of modern sediments such as sand, silt, and clay, and the processes that result in their formation (erosion and weathering), transport, deposition and diagenesis. Sedimentologists apply their understanding of m ...

stratigraphy Stratigraphy is a branch of geology concerned with the study of rock layers ( strata) and layering (stratification). It is primarily used in the study of sedimentary and layered volcanic rocks. Stratigraphy has three related subfields: lithost ...

paleontology Paleontology (), also spelled palaeontology or palæontology, is the scientific study of life that existed prior to, and sometimes including, the start of the Holocene epoch (roughly 11,700 years before present). It includes the study of fossi ...

environmental sciences Environmental science is an interdisciplinary academic field that integrates physics, biology, and geography (including ecology, chemistry, plant science, zoology, mineralogy, oceanography, limnology, soil science, geology and physi ...

, marine geology,

hydrogeology Hydrogeology (''hydro-'' meaning water, and ''-geology'' meaning the study of the Earth) is the area of geology that deals with the distribution and movement of groundwater in the soil and rocks of the Earth's crust (commonly in aq ...

, and related specialties. Members benefit from both gaining and exchanging information pertinent to their geologic specialties. Information is dispersed via the publication of two major scientific journals, the ''Journal of Sedimentary Research'' (JSR) and ''PALAIOS'', and the organization of technical conferences and short courses. It also publishes a monthly magazine for its members, ''The Sedimentary Record'', which is now a

Diamond Open Access Diamond open access refers to academic texts (such as monographs, edited collections, and journal articles) published/distributed/preserved with no fees to either reader or author. Alternative labels include platinum open access, non-commercial op ...

journal.

Conferences

The Society arranges research conferences based on topics that are relevant to members and show promise of progress. They are meant to focus the attention of specialists with diverse expertise on some theme of mutual interest and stimulate new research areas or approaches. They are designed to encourage summaries of new, incomplete research, and invite open speculation. Field trips, poster sessions, core workshops, and laboratory experiments are often included as part of a conference.

Awards

Annually the Society recognizes people who have contributed to the various areas of sedimentary geology. The awardees are nominated by members of the Society, but do not have to be members themselves. These medals are named in recognition of outstanding geologists. *

William H. Twenhofel Medal The William H. Twenhofel Medal is the highest award given by the Society for Sedimentary Geology (SEPM). It was instituted in memory of William H. Twenhofel and is awarded annually to a person for his or her "Outstanding Contributions to Sedimentar ...

, the highest award, for Outstanding Contributions to Sedimentary Geology, named for William H. Twenhofel * Francis P. Shepard Medal for Marine Geology, named for Francis Shepard * Raymond C. Moore Medal for Paleontology, named for Raymond C. Moore * Francis J. Pettijohn Medal for Sedimentology, named for

Francis J. Pettijohn Francis John Pettijohn (June 20, 1904 – April 23, 1999) was an American geologist who served for many years on the faculty of Johns Hopkins University.Paul E. Potter, tp://rock.geosociety.org/pub/Memorials/v31/pettijohn.pdf Memorial to Francis J. ...

William Dickenson Medal William is a male given name of Germanic origin.Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 276. It became very popular in the English language after the Norman conquest of Eng ...

for an impactful mid-career sedimentary geoscientist, named for

William Dickenson William is a male given name of Germanic origin.Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 276. It became very popular in the English language after the Norman conquest of Eng ...

James Lee Wilson Award James is a common English language surname and given name: *James (name), the typically masculine first name James * James (surname), various people with the last name James James or James City may also refer to: People * King James (disambiguati ...

for Sedimentary Geology by a young scientist, named for

James Lee Wilson James is a common English language surname and given name: *James (name), the typically masculine first name James * James (surname), various people with the last name James James or James City may also refer to: People * King James (disambiguati ...

The Society also bestows, at its discretion, Honorary Membership and a Distinguished Service Award to Society members.

External links

Society for Sedimentary Geology website

SEPMSTRATA-an educational website for sedimentary geology
Geology societies Sedimentology Stratigraphy Scientific societies based in the United States Non-profit organizations based in Oklahoma {{Geology-stub