Welcome from the Hosts

Dear Colleagues,

On behalf of the National Organizing Committee, we are pleased to welcome you to the 38th International Geological Congress (IGC), to be held in Calgary, Alberta, Canada (August 2028). IGC 2028 will bring together geoscientists, researchers, industry professionals, and students from around the world to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and discuss the latest advances in Earth Sciences.

IGCs are the global forum for the advancement of Earth Sciences that have occurred every four years since 1878. The IUGS James M. Harrison Award for Distinguished Service is named after the Canadian who was the first president of IUGS. The most recent IGC hosted in the Americas was 1989 in Washington, DC. The Geosciences of the Americas Symposium extends from pole to equator to pole highlighting opportunities for collaboration with Latin American geoscientists.

The focus for IGC 2028, “Geosciences for Humanity”, reflects the importance of geosciences for solving the significant challenges facing humanity. Keynote Daily Themes such as “Sustainability, Climate Change and Natural Disasters” and “Water Resources” emphasize where the geosciences can be used to address these challenges.

Mineral exploration has been at the heart of Canada’s history, including the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898 which led to the establishment of the Yukon Territory. Canada, and the Americas, also preserve the geological history of the Earth, from its formation 4.6 billion years ago to the present day. Against this backdrop, the congress will explore topics including climate systems, natural resources, natural hazard mitigation, corporate social responsibility, and Indigenous reconciliation.

Set against the stunning backdrop of the Canadian Rockies, Calgary is a major energy hub in North America and offers a unique setting that reflects both the geological richness and the spirit of discovery that define the geosciences. We look forward to an engaging program of scientific sessions, field excursions, workshops, and networking opportunities that foster collaboration and innovation across the global geoscience community.

Calgary is an international hub, easily accessible from all global locations. The city provides a safe and affordable multicultural experience, with world-class hotels, restaurants and shopping. Day trips from Calgary include UNESCO World Heritage Sites (now also IUGS Geological Heritage Sites) such as the iconic Canadian Rocky Mountains (Burgess Shale) and Dinosaur Provincial Park. Calgary has twice been selected by The Economist as the most livable city in North America. The new and inspiring BMO Centre venue, the largest in Western Canada, can support up to 60 parallel sessions to accommodate the expected 10,000+ participants.

Interwoven with the scientific program, workshops, and field trips; the GeoExpo (trade show) will provide opportunities to connect with national and international universities, investment opportunities, service providers, state of the art technology and applications, while exploring core shacks (for both petroleum and mineral exploration). Ocean Networks Canada is a supporting organization and we are working towards including the Canadian Space Agency in collaboration with the “Space and Planetary Science” Keynote Daily Theme. The Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen will circumnavigate the moon in Artemis II soon after the distribution of this first circular.

The distribution of this first circular represents the opening of proposals for scientific sessions, field excursions and workshops. IGC 2028 will feature a diverse program of field excursions highlighting the geological heritage across the North American craton, from the Pacific to the Arctic to the Atlantic Oceans.

Please stay in touch with IGC 2028! We welcome you to select the ‘Add me to the mailing list’ link when you visit the congress website, fill the form to express your interest in attending, and to provide us with feedback. We can then provide you directly with updates regarding the 38th IGC.

In closing, we look forward to welcoming you to IGC 2028 in Calgary to make this a momentous “Geosciences for Humanity” event, a rewarding experience and a memorable adventure for geoscientists from around our planet.

Yours sincerely,

Katherine Boggs and Glenn Dolphin

Co-chairs, 38th IGC, Calgary 2028