49th INHIGEO Annual Symposium, Busan (Korea), 25 – 31 August 2024 (in association with 37th IGC 2024)

 

The 37th International Geological Congress (IGC 2024) takes place August 25–31, 2024, at BEXCO, Busan, Republic of Korea. The congress website is http://www.igc2024korea.org/

 

For the Call for Abstracts please click here.

 

Deadlines:

Abstract submission until February 16th, 2024
Early Bird registration is due until April 26th, 2024.
INHIGEO is organizing five sessions and one workshop for the congress

You will find the detailed outlines below and in the scientific programme of the Congress website (http://www.igc2024korea.org/):

Under T27: Geoheritage, Geopark, and Geotourism

 

• Session 3: Geosites and georoutes in the history of geological sciences

(chaired by Ezio Vaccari and Martina Kölbl-Ebert)

 

The comparative study of geosites and georoutes of historical relevance is of great importance, because it contributes significantly to recognize and understand the foundation, the development and the potential of the geological sciences, as well as their role in human society. The historical geosites and georoutes are not just places with a history, but places that have made history in the field of the geological sciences. In these sites and itineraries the observations of some specific features determined new ideas, theories and interpretations which have changed human understanding of the geological phenomena. It is evident that the historical geosites and georoutes are landmarks for the history of science, as well as milestones for modern geology. In fact, the history of geosciences, from Antiquity to the Contemporary Age, is based not only on archival documents and printed material, but also on places, routes and landscapes, which have been described, studied and interpreted since the origins of the science of geology, in particular between the 18th and the 19th century. The increase of scientific travels and the emergence of fieldwork, from the 18th century to the present day, has defined and identified not only places, but also wider regions which, when preserved and still visible today, can become geosites or groups of geosites within an area with geohistorical value. Most of these sites, described in the geological literature, in particular between the 18th and the 19th century, can be considered the cradles of the modern geological fieldwork and the birthplaces of new ideas on the history of the Earth, as well as the sources for the history of the methodology of observing, sampling, representing and describing geological features in the field. The original routes of this early fieldwork, which took place during several travels and excursions in the past, can be reconstructed by the historical research and in some cases can be repeated in geo-historical fieldtrips (Johnston & Taylor, 2017). The importance of this "re-treading" of the early geological fieldwork has been recently emphasized by Martin Rudwick (2022) and its potential for possible new forms of geotourism (Vaccari 2016) can be now regarded as highly significant, in particular for the benefit of the growing network of the Geoparks. The aim of this session is to invite papers from different perspectives in sciences and humanities, in order to present and compare case studies regarding places and routes, particularly (but not exclusively) in the history of geological fieldwork, within an interdisciplinary framework including the history of geosciences and the geoheritage, also in order to discuss the definitions and the roles of historical geosite and historical georoute. This session is sponsored by the IUGS International Commission on the History of Geological Sciences (INHIGEO).

Under T38: Anthropocene

• Session 1: Anthropocene: Historical and Philosophical Perspectives  

(chaired by Claudine Cohen, Ernst Hamm and Andrea Candela)

 

The concept of Anthropocene, as a possible new geological epoch to describe the most recent period in Earth’s history when anthropic activity has begun to exert a significant impact on Earth’s climate, geology, and ecosystems, has been widely discussed in recent years not only within the community of geologists, and in particular in the field of stratigraphy, but also among historians, philosophers, earth systems scientists, ecologists, sociologists, economists as well as politicians. Needless to say, the idea that there can be a unit of geological time where the anthropogenic footprint is clearly detectable, has encouraged lively debates among historians of science and technology, who have always been interested in the scope, meanings and effects, even from an environmental point of view, of techno-scientific and industrial processes. It is now a matter of fact that this very interdisciplinary topic has gradually attracted a growing interest worldwide from the media, the general public and even policymakers, as it is directly linked to the issue of the global emergency of climate change. The notion of Anthropocene aims at highlighting the potential role as a major geological agent acquired by humankind over the 20th century, at the time when the “fossil fuels economy” has become globally established. Therefore, on the one hand, geosciences have been focusing on identifying the stratigraphic markers and the geological proxies of this new epoch. Indeed, a working group on the Anthropocene has been established within the Subcommission on Quaternary Stratigraphy. However, on the other hand, historical disciplines, and more specifically the history and philosophy of science, have recently launched a variety of studies on the genesis, historical genealogies and development of the Anthropocene event and concept. The research in history of geological sciences can provide, in many ways, useful contributions to the current debate on the history, definition and possible establishment of the new epoch called Anthropocene. In fact, several classic studies in the historiography of the Earth sciences have been focused on the scientific, philosophical and socio-political contexts of the definition of new geological epochs from the 19th century to date. Moreover, the history of geosciences can help shed light on the interactions between geosphere and anthroposphere from a historical perspective. It can then help to reconstruct the history of those theories of the Earth, especially as a complex system, in relationship with the recent notion of Anthropocene. The aim of this session is to invite papers from different perspectives in sciences and humanities, in order to contribute to define the concept of Anthropocene and evaluate it within the history of geosciences. This session is sponsored by the IUGS International Commission on the History of Geological Sciences (INHIGEO).

 

Under T40: History of Geological Sciences

• Session 1: History of women in geology: trailblazers, leaders and those in the shadows

(chaired by Kathleen Histon and Martina Kölbl-Ebert)

 

Since the 18th century women have been pioneers in a broad spectrum of geoscience disciplines, however, their achievements have not always been recognized. In this INHIGEO sponsored session we wish to highlight their important roles over three centuries and welcome presentations on the history of the trailblazers, those who excelled in research; the leaders, i.e. those who held important positions such as in the IUGS, IGCP, national surveys, industry, museums, academic chairs in geology etc., and in particular those in the shadows, their contributions often unacknowledged or even forgotten, the women who, e.g., worked alongside their male colleagues as assistants or flanked their husbands’ research as illustrators and in preparation of specimens. By reconstructing their history, their roles and the obstacles they encountered within the development of the geological sciences across a broad geographical, social and time context we may provide lessons for the future and role models for the geoscientists of the 21st century. This session is sponsored by the IUGS International Commission on the History of Geological Sciences (INHIGEO).

 

• Session 2: History of geoscientific travels in Asia and beyond

(chaired by Ezio Vaccari, Toshihiro Yamada and Carol Bacon)

 

The development of the geosciences, has always been closely associated with travel, especially dating from the 17th century onwards, when expeditions to explore unknown territories and seas by surveyors and scientists also brought opportunities to compare and contrast scientific findings and theories based on such observations on a global scale. Taking the main theme of the 37th IGC "The Great Travelers: Voyages to the Unifying Earth", this INHIGEO sponsored session invites presentations related to geoscientific travels that focused on Asia, but not exclusively, as travel and exploratory expeditions across all the continents from the Americas, Africa, Oceania and Europe can be also presented and discussed in a comparative way. These travels, covering a wide range of enterprises including geography and geophysics from ancient to modern times, are an invaluable source of knowledge, methods and objects that still require study and careful interpretation in relation to the influence and role these travels played in the development of the Earth sciences and in particular on the establishement of various practices of geological fieldwork through the centuries. This session is sponsored by the IUGS International Commission on the History of Geological Sciences (INHIGEO).

 

• Session 3: General contributions to the history of geological sciences

(chaired by Martina Kölbl-Ebert and Ezio Vaccari)

 

This session aims to provide a meeting space for research to be presented that highlights the different ways of interaction between history and the geosciences. Contributions are invited, also from the different fields of the Earth sciences, related to the history of the geosciences covering all aspects of research on historical documents, maps and publications, collections, museums, archives, libraries, geological institutions and surveys, the development of theories or techniques in the geosciences, scientific fieldwork, disputes and discussion, biographies and correspondence between scientists. Societal, geographical and temporal contexts in the development of the geosciences reveal critical historical insights and underline the importance of collaboration between the humanities and sciences in providing resources for public outreach and sustainability for the future of the geosciences within the society. The session is sponsored by IUGS International Commission on the History of Geological Sciences (INHIGEO).

 

In the workshop programme

• Workshop 22 on Hidden histories in the geological sciences

(as an open forum organized by Maddalena Napolitani and Victor Monnin)

 

This workshop proposes to investigate and shed light on some aspects of the history of geology that are so far not very much studied or that were recently uncovered. The aim is to discuss a varied series of case-study. Some examples could  be mentioned could be the history of personalities that are not yet much known (or somehow “forgotten”), and that contributed to the history of geology; the analysis of unstudied and inedited sources, such as archive documents, books or treatises, but also materia: l sources that might be collections’ objects (specimens, instruments), or visual ones. The history of expeditions and fieldwork might also provide new materia: ls to be studied (correspondence, notebooks with sketches, tools, etc.). The purpose is thus, starting from the presentation of these so far “hidden materia: ls”, to develop a collective reflection on how they contributed, and contribute, to the history of geology, both in an historical perspective and in a contemporary one. Within these perspectives, the presentation of projects and works in progress is also welcome. Finally, this workshop also aims to offer room especially to young scholars to present part of their research, and eventually to explore new methodological approaches. The first part of the workshop would be dedicated to short presentations (about 10 minutes) followed by questions, that would be collectively discusses in a second moment to broaden the perspective from the case-study to a more general context, exploring the relation between the “hidden” and “subterranean” history and the one “out in the open”. This workshop is sponsored by the IUGS International Commission on the History of Geological Sciences (INHIGEO)

 

There will also be an INHIGEO fieldtrip to Japan 1- 4 September 2024
(information courtesy of Michiko Yajima and Toshihiro Yamada):

Northern Kyushu excursion in Japan
Sunday, September 1st:
13:30 gathering at Busan Port, Republic of Korea
15:00 departure for Fukuoka, Japan12
18:40 arrival at Hakata Port in Fukuoka
stay in Fukuoka

Monday, September 2nd: Shimabara Geo Park
Fukuoka to Shimabara via Arita
visiting Imaemon Porcelain Kiln in Arita
lunch near Shimbara Castle
after lunch Shimabara Geo Park, Mt. Unzen volcano area
stay at Shimabara onsen (hot spring)

Tuesday, September 3rd: Nagasaki City
Shimabara onsen to Nagasaki
visiting Unzen Jigoku (hell, sulfur spa)
sightseeing in Nagasaki (Atomic bomb site, Nagasaki Museum of History and Culture)
stay at Nagasaki

Wednesday, September 4th:
saying goodbye after breakfast

Please note: Registration to this fieldtrip will be handled by the Japanese organizers, sponsored by JAHIGEO. We will inform you about the procedures in due time. You will not find this fieldtrip on the IGC website.

 

 

 

The INHIGEO Annual Conference for 2025 is scheduled as follows:

 

2025 – 50th INHIGEO Symposium, New Zealand, Dunedin (in association with 27th ICHST)

https://www.ichst2025.org/