Bringing the International Geological Congress to Scotland
The Scottish Geology Trust has formed a partnership with the Geological Society of London and the British Geological Survey to lead a bid to bring the 38th International Geological Congress (IGC) to Glasgow in 2028.
The IGC is the longest-running meeting place for earth scientists from across the world, indeed is one of the world’s oldest international conferences in any science. Beginning in 1878 and held every four years, the IGC is likened to the Olympics for Earth Sciences and is similarly awarded through a competitive bidding process. It is the flagship event for the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) and was last held in the UK in 1948. IGCs bridge academic professionals, national organisations including geological surveys, and key industries – and is one of the major international science conferences in the calendar. For us, it provides a great opportunity to promote the stunning geology of Scotland, its great geodiversity, and heritage along with the role of our science in servicing the modern world.
Our vision for Glasgow 2028 is: “Geoscience delivers a sustainable and equitable future”. It places our science at the heart of the transition to new energies, the development of earth resources necessary to meet society’s needs and the increasing our resilience to environmental change. We are building on Glasgow’s hosting of COP26 (2021) and Scotland’s 250-year history of geological science in the service of society, Glasgow is an ideal venue to share not only breaking scientific advances but also lessons from history – debating their application for all humanity’s benefit. Our Congress vision maximises equality, diversity, inclusion and accessibility through its planning and delivery, and welcomes participants from all parts of the world. Glasgow is a great place for a conference – famous for its open, welcoming vibe, excellent value and close proximity, not only to Scotland’s fantastic cultural heritage but also its exceptionally diverse geology.
The 38th IGC will run for a week in late summer 2028. Alongside the main scientific conference, we will offer a fantastic range of excursions for our participants along with outreach and educational events for the public at large, whether they be residents of Glasgow or elsewhere across Scotland, visitors and, through both virtual events and legacy resources, to those unable to be present in person.
Our bid for the 38th IGC is supported from across the community, from Scotland’s First Minister, through public agencies, organisations, the broad education sector, learned societies and industry. Bids to host are submitted to the IUGS by end March 2024, with a decision taken at the upcoming 37th IGC (Busan, Republic of Korea) in August 2024.
You can find out more about our bid at igc2028glasgow.org. If you would like to support the bid, please email: igc2028@geolsoc.org.uk.
