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| Abbreviation | IUGS |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1961; 64 years ago (1961) |
| Type | INGO,standards organization |
| Headquarters | Founded inParis, France, secretariat inBeijing, China |
Region served | Worldwide |
President (2024-2028): | Prof. Hassina Mouri (Algerian/South African) |
Key people |
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Parent organization | International Science Council (ISC) |
| Website | www |
TheInternational Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) is an internationalnon-governmental organization devoted to global cooperation in the field ofgeology.[1] As of 2023, it represents more than 1 milliongeoscientists around the world.[2]
Founded in 1961, the IUGS was established to maintain collaboration between the International Geological Congresses, which have taken place every four years since 1875. It is a Scientific Union member of theInternational Science Council (ISC),[3] formerly theInternational 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 is 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.[4] The Union's Secretariat is currently located at theChinese Academy of Geological Sciences in Beijing, China.
IUGS is a joint partner withUNESCO for theInternational Geoscience Programme (IGCP) and also participates in theGlobal Geoparks Network (GGN). TheGeological Society of London oversees the production and distribution of IUGS Publications. The Geological Society of India produces and distributes the Union's quarterly journal, entitledEpisodes, as well as providing editorial support. Interested parties can download the latest issues ofEpisodes free of charge. Other activities include: Resourcing Future Generations (RFG), Young Reporters, Deep-Time Digital Earth (DDE).[5]
IUGS runs nine international commissions, covering the following topics:
The International Union of Geological Sciences is the main scientific sponsor of theInternational Geological Congress[7] (IGC), which takes place every four years. The first congress was in France in 1878[8] where a few geoscientists gathered to share new finds and .tTm 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 hosted the 34th congress in August 2012[9] andCape Town the 35th in 2016.[10]Delhi was to host the 36th in March 2020 as a collaborative effort byBangladesh,India,Nepal,Pakistan andSri Lanka. Because ofCOVID, the congress was postponed twice and developed online in 2021.[11] The 37th was held in August 2024 inBusan.Canada won the bid to host the 38th IGC inCalgary in 2028.[12]
To celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of its establishment, in 2022, IUGS published a list of 100 sites around the world that it holds to be significant in the development of the earth sciences.[13]
In 2024, IUGS published a second list of another 100 geological heritage sites.
In 2024, the IUGS ratified eleven geo-collections. An IUGS Geo-collection "is a museum collection or part of a museum collection of global importance because of its particularly high scientific, historical or educational relevance for geological sciences". A call for nominations for further geo-collections was made in October, 2025.[14]
The IUGS Scientific Awards of Excellence:
