Upcoming GSM Public Events

Seminar Details

Seminar Lab Date: September 14, 2026
Seminar Lab Subject: Fall Banquet; Annual Meeting; Mountains to Metal
Seminar Lab Presenter: Patrick Steury, B.Sc., Exploration Geologist, Dakota Gold

Seminar Lab Location:

Fall Banquet in the hall of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 436 N Roy St, St Paul, MN (Midway area near I-94 & Snelling)

Seminar Lab Detail:

The first meeting of the Geological Society of Minnesota for 2026-2027 is the Fall Banquet at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 436 N Roy St, St Paul, MN (Midway area near I-94 & Snelling). This is the same location as the Spring Banquet held in May, 2026. 

Banquet: We will start gathering at 5 PM and a catered buffet will arrive at 5:30. As in the spring, the buffet dinner is being catered by nearby Black Sea Restaurant ( https://blacksearestaurant.com/). The selections will include vegetarian and gluten-free dishes; dessert will be choice of baklava or rice pudding. The cost is $15/person, payable in cash at the banquet (exact change if possible).

Following the banquet, around 6:30 PM will be our Annual Meeting, during which the membership will elect new Board members to replace those leaving the Board. Starting around 7 PM, will be our first lecture of 2026-2027. As with all GSM lectures, this lecture is free and open to the public.

Summary & biography TBA

Seminar Details

Seminar Lab Date: September 28, 2026
Seminar Lab Subject: Multimedia Fate and Transport of PFAS in Minnesota
Seminar Lab Presenter: Michael Ginsbach, M.Sc., Hydrogeologist, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Seminar Lab Location:

**Location TBA**

Seminar Lab Detail:

Summary: Minnesota has been working to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) since 2002 when perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) were discovered in groundwater in southern Washington County. In the subsequent two decades, additional investigations have been performed across the state with samples being collected not only from groundwater but surface water, soil, sediment, air, and wildlife. These investigations, along with actions such as the MPCA’s 2021 PFAS Blueprint and 2022 PFAS Monitoring Plan, have provided insight into the movement of PFAS throughout the environment in Minnesota. The aforementioned southern Washington County has been the focus of numerous investigations since 2002 due to the presence of several disposal sites and a PFAS manufacturer in the county. Recent investigations have provided additional information about the fate and transport of PFAS through various environmental media in southern Washington County and northern Dakota County, which has helped identify impacted drinking resources in the area and allowed for the development of a site-specific water quality criteria for five PFAS in an eight mile stretch of the Mississippi River between the two counties. 

Biography: Michael Ginsbach is a senior hydrogeologist in the Superfund Remedial section of the MPCA where he oversees investigations and cleanups of sites in the Superfund and RCRA Remediation programs. He also aids in the development of technical and programmatic guidance for the MPCA and serves as a technical resource for the Agency’s compliance and enforcement programs. He has been with the MPCA for nine years, is a board member for the Minnesota Ground Water Association, and has served on a number of Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council teams. Michael holds a bachelor’s in earth science education and a bachelor’s in geology from North Dakota State University and a master’s in geology from Idaho State University.

Seminar Details

Seminar Lab Date: October 12, 2026
Seminar Lab Subject: Dimensional Stone Production in Minnesota with Coldspring USA
Seminar Lab Presenter: Richard Taylor, B.Sc., Regional Quarry Manager, Coldspring Company

Seminar Lab Location:

**Location TBA**

Seminar Lab Detail:

Board Meeting Title November Board Meeting
Board Meeting Date Monday, November 16, 2026 from to
Location

TBA

Board Meeting Agenda