International Union of Geological Sciences
Encyclopedia
The International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) is an international non-governmental organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...

 devoted to international cooperation in the field of geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...

.

About

The IUGS was founded in 1961 and is a Scientific Union member of the International Council for Science
International Council for Science
The International Council for Science , formerly the International Council of Scientific Unions, was founded in 1931 as an international non-governmental organization devoted to international co-operation in the advancement of science...

 (ICSU), which it recognizes as the coordinating body for the international organization of science. Currently geologists from 120 countries are represented in IUGS through national (and regional) organizations, and 46 Affiliated Organizations. IUGS promotes and encourages the study of geological problems, especially those of world-wide significance, and supports and facilitates international and interdisciplinary cooperation in the earth sciences. http://www.iugs.org/History.html The Union's Secretariat is currently located at the US Geological Survey Headquarters (USGS) in Reston VA, U.S.A

Activities

IUGS is a joint partner with UNESCO for the International Geoscience Programme
International Geoscience Programme
The International Geoscience Programme is a cooperative enterprise of UNESCO and the International Union of Geological Sciences ....

 (IGCP) and they also participate in the Global Network of National Geoparks(GNN). The Geological Society of London
Geological Society of London
The Geological Society of London is a learned society based in the United Kingdom with the aim of "investigating the mineral structure of the Earth"...

 oversees the production and distribution of IUGS Publications. The Ministry of Land and Resources in Beijing, China, produces and distributes the Union's quadrennial journal entitled Episodes, as well as providing editorial support. The latest issues of Episodes may be downloaded free of charge http://www.episodes.org/backissues.htm.

Currently, IUGS runs five international commissions in the following topics:

On December 22, 2005, the 60th Session of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...

 General Assembly ratified the International Year of Planet Earth
International Year of Planet Earth
The United Nations General Assembly declared 2008 as the International Year of Planet Earth to increase awareness of the importance of Earth sciences for the achievement of sustainable development. UNESCO was designated as the lead agency...

 for 2008. IUGS and UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...

 initiated the programme to establish this UN Year which celebrates Earth Sciences.

The Union is the main scientific sponsor of the International Geological Congress http://iugs.org/uploads/images/PDF/A%20Brief%20History.pdf, which takes place every four years. The 34th Session of the International Geological Congress will be held in Brisbane, Australia in August 2012 http://www.34igc.org. The 33rd Congress was in August 2008, in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...

, Norway, and the proceedings were published online in March 2010 along with webcast
Webcast
A webcast is a media presentation distributed over the Internet using streaming media technology to distribute a single content source to many simultaneous listeners/viewers. A webcast may either be distributed live or on demand...

s & other materials.

External links

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