Western Carolina University will host more than 700 professional geologists and geology students during the 61st annual meeting of the Southeastern Section of the Geological Society of America, which will be held Saturday, March 31, through Monday, April 2, in Asheville.

This marks the first time the Geological Society of America has met in Western North Carolina. WCU’s Department of Geosciences and Natural Resources is playing host for the event held at the Renaissance Asheville Hotel.

There will be lectures, discussions, workshops, exhibits and field trips.

The keynote address will be delivered by Richard M. Wooten, senior geologist with the North Carolina Geological Survey, who will speak on “Landslide Hazard Mapping 2005-2011: Findings and Lessons Learned.”

www.geosociety.org/Sections/se/2012mtg or 828.227.7367.