50th Anniversary of UNESCO Earth Sciences and 8th Open Session of the International Geoscience Programme Council

UNESCO, through the International Geoscience Programme (IGCP) and it is run in partnership with the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS), has harnessed the intellectual capacity of a worldwide network of geoscientists to lay the foundation for our planet’s future, focusing on responsible and environmental resource extraction, natural hazard resilience and preparedness, and adaptability in an era of changing climate for the past 50 years.

In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the IGCP, UNESCO and IUGS are holding a conference entitled ‘Healing the Earth: UNESCO and Earth sciences - past, present and future’ on 16 March 2023.

The Conference will showcase the IGCP’s achievements, impact and current status. It aims to foster a discussion about the role of UNESCO and IUGS in international earth science cooperation during the next 50 years, to address the challenges our society is facing today. IGCP's scientific contribution to our society will be highlighted, as well as its efforts to provide a mechanism for geoscientists from developing countries to engage in research with geoscientists from the developed world.