The Australian Geoscience Council, the peak body for professional and learned geological societies, will host the 34th International Geological Congress (IGC) in Brisbane from 5 to 10 August, 2012.
The IGC is the oldest, most prestigious gathering of geoscientists from industry, government, academia, research organisations and professional societies globally. The scientific sponsor of the event is the International Union of Geological Sciences, the largest and most active non-governmental scientific organisation in the world.
The overall theme of the conference ? Unearthing our Past and Future ? Resourcing Tomorrow ? focuses on the crucial roles the geosciences will play in meeting societal needs while sustaining the earth, including climate change, geohazards, human health and the future energy mix. The Congress will also have comprehensive programs on mineral resources, energy and information management, coupled with opportunities for delegates to network with leading international experts.
Major mining players such as Vale, BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto are also sponsors of the event.
Amongst the plenary speakers will be UK geologist and broadcaster Iain Stewart who has presented on major BBC TV documentaries including Journeys from the Centre of the Earth, Making Scotland?s Landscape and Men of Rock. Other significant contributors will include Lord Ron Oxburgh, former chairman of the Shell Transport and Trading Company and Marcio Luis Silva Godoy, of Vale?s global exploration and mineral project development division.
Another highlight of the IGC will be the highly anticipated release of new information and maps from a decade of geological and geophysical surveys conducted over Central and Eastern Asia. This vast region is known to have high mineral and energy potential but the availability of data has been limited ? until now.
For more information, visit the IGC website.
Source: Australian Geoscience Council/Rowland