The International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) is an international

non-governmental organization A non-governmental organization (NGO) or non-governmental organisation (see spelling differences) is an organization that generally is formed independent from government. They are typically nonprofit entities, and many of them are active in ...

devoted to international cooperation in the field of

geology Geology () is a branch of natural science concerned with Earth and other Astronomical object, astronomical objects, the features or rock (geology), rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which they change over time. Modern geology ...

About

The IUGS was founded in 1961 and is a Scientific Union member of the International Science Council (ISC), formerly the International Council for Science (ICSU), which it recognizes as the co-ordinating body for the international organization of science. Currently geologists from 121 countries (and regions) are represented in the IUGS. A broad range of scientific topics are covered by its commission, task groups, joint programmes and affiliated organizations. IUGS promotes and encourages the study of geological problems, especially those of worldwide significance, and supports and facilitates international and inter-disciplinary co-operation in the earth sciences. The Union's Secretariat is currently located at the

Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences The Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences (CAGS; ) is an institution that engages in geoscience research in the People's Republic of China. The academy was established in 1956 and reorganized in 1999. Administratively it is under the PRC Ministr ...

in Beijing, China.

Activities

IUGS is a joint partner with

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international coope ...

for the International Geoscience Programme (IGCP) and also participates in the

Global Geoparks Network UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGGp) are geoparks certified by the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council as meeting all the requirements for belonging to the Global Geoparks Network (GGN). The GGN is both a network of geoparks and the agency of the United Nati ...

(GGN). The Geological Society of London oversees the production and distribution of IUGS Publications. The Geological Society of India produces and distributes the Union's quarterly journal, entitled ''Episodes'', as well as providing editorial support. Interested parties can download the latest issues of ''Episodes'' free of charge.

Commissions

IUGS runs seven international commissions, covering the following topics: * Commission for the Management and Application of Geoscience Information (CGI) * Geoscience Education, Training and Technology Transfer (COGE) * Geoscience for Environmental Management (GEM) *

International Commission on Stratigraphy The International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS), sometimes referred to unofficially as the "International Stratigraphic Commission", is a daughter or major subcommittee grade scientific daughter organization that concerns itself with stratigr ...

(ICS) *

International Commission on the History of Geological Sciences The International Commission on the History of Geological Sciences (INHIGEO) promotes ongoing research into the history of the earth sciences, particularly the history of geology. It has 20 Honorary Senior Members and 301 members (2018) worldwide. ...

(INHIGEO) * Commission on Tectonics and Structural Geology (TECTASK) * Commission on Global Geochemical Baselines (CGGB) The latter commission (CGGB) is the youngest: its establishment was approved on 31 August 2016 in Cape Town at the Fourth Ordinary Session of the IUGS Council meeting. It had been a task group since 1998, with a precursor existing since 1988.

International Geological Congress

The International Union of Geological Sciences is the main scientific sponsor of the International Geological Congress (IGC), which takes place every four years. The first congress was in France in 1878 where a few geoscientists gathered to share new finds and the aim was to create a framework and a platform for geoscientists to meet at regular intervals. The event has been growing bigger with each congress.

Brisbane Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Queensland, and the third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of approximately 2.6 million. Brisbane lies at the centre of the South ...

hosted the 34th congress in August 2012 and

Cape Town Cape Town ( af, Kaapstad; , xh, iKapa) is one of South Africa's three capital cities, serving as the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. It is the legislative capital of the country, the oldest city in the country, and the second largest ...

the 35th in 2016.

Delhi Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, primarily its western or right bank, Delhi shares borders w ...

was to host the 36th in March 2020 as a collaborative effort by Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Because of Covid, the congress has been postponed twice and is currently re-scheduled for August 2021. Its theme is to be "Geosciences:The Basic Science for a Sustainable Future".

First 100 IUGS Geological Heritage Sites

To celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of its establishment, in October 2022 IUGS published a list of 100 sites around the world that it holds to be significant in the development of the earth sciences.

Awards

The IUGS Scientific Awards of Excellence: * IUGS – Émile Argand Award * IUGS – James M. Harrison Award * IUGS – Award for Geoscience Information * IUGS – Award for Structural Geology * Vladimir V. Tikhomirov History of Geology Medal by the IUGS Commission on the History of Geology (INHIGEO). * Digby McLaren Medal by the IUGS Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS).Special Issue on the IUGS Awards
, IUGS Science Excellence Awards for 2016.

References

External links

International Union of Geological Sciences website

International Year of Planet Earth website

International Geoscience Programme website

International Chronostratigraphic Chart

International Stratigraphic Guide
A guide developed by the IUGS-ICS Subcommission on Stratigraphic Classification to promote international agreement on principles of stratigraphic classification and to develop an internationally acceptable stratigraphic terminology and rules of stratigraphic procedure.
List of IUGS-affiliated organizations

First 100 IUGS Geological Heritage Sites
{{Authority control Geology organizations International scientific organizations Members of the International Council for Science Scientific organizations established in 1961 Members of the International Science Council