EuroGeoSurveys Highlights Key Geoscience Partnerships and Projects at IGC 2024 in Busan

The International Geological Congress (IGC), a major global Earth Science conference, took place in Busan, Rep. of Korea, from 25-31 August 2024. Under the theme ‘The Great Travellers: Voyages to the Unifying Earth,’ the 37th IGC provided a platform for advancing geoscience and fostering international collaboration.

EuroGeoSurveys (EGS) at IGC 2024

At the GeoExpo, EGS featured with a joint booth alongside the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) and the French Geological Survey (BRGM). EGS showcased its activities, member projects, and key initiatives, including the ‘Geological Service for Europe’ (GSEU) and ‘Pan-African Support to the EuroGeoSurveys – Organisation of African Geological Surveys Partnership’ (PanAfGeo). Additionally, EGS represented the European Technology Platform on Sustainable Mineral Resources (ETP SMR) and promoted a number of other prominent projects, including AfricaMaVal and SCRREEN3.

Engaging Sessions at IGC 2024
EGS contributed to several sessions:

• Geoethics and Societal Relevance: EGS presented ‘Bridging Continents: Building Environmental Awareness and Sustainability with Geosciences Communication through the PanAfGeo and GSEU projects.’ This talk highlighted how these initiatives foster international geoscientific collaboration and emphasize the importance of open access to geological data for informed policymaking.

• GIS and Remote Sensing: GSEU and the European Geological Data Infrastructure (EGDI) were featured in this session on geological data and mapping. The project’s focus on accelerating Europe’s clean energy transition through developing common methodologies and fully harmonised pan-European data was a key theme of the presentation, along with the importance of applying the FAIR principles (ensuring the data is Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) to the wealth of data being made available openly via EGDI.

• Geoscience and Policy: EGS chaired a session on land use planning, digitalisation, and natural disaster management. The session underscored geoscience’s crucial role in providing trusted, impartial advice and expertise towards policymakers and national/regional authorities, particularly in addressing common challenges such as climate change, resource management, and disaster prevention. The session further highlighted the importance of collaboration and the need to share data and experiences across these critical areas.

EGS also convened the World Community of Geological Surveys (WCOGS) Business Meeting on August 28. This meeting fostered engagement with Directors and delegates of global Geological Survey organisations and facilitated discussions on collaborative strategies to tackle international geoscience challenges.

The IGC 2024 concluded with the announcement that Calgary, Canada, will host the 38th IGC in 2028.

To read the full press release, please, click here.