Activities
INHIGEO Webinar Series
This new online series of webinars will provide a Virtual Open Forum for discussion of a wide range of topics on the History of the Geological Sciences and will include panel discussions, book presentations, workshops for exchange of views on methodology / practice for those new to historical research, archives and what to look for and much more.
The webinars will focus in particular on the research recently carried out by young INHIGEO members / early career scholars – suggestions for topics are welcome!
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INHIGEO Webinar: Third meeting
Title: Approaches to the History of Climatology and Glaciology
Date: 21 April 2023, 4 to 5:30 p.m. (CET)
organised by Victor Monnin and Maddalena Napolitani and featuring talks by Tatiana Carbonell and Danielle K. Inkpen.
Zoom link for participating in the flyer:
INHIGEO Webinar: Second meeting
Title: The State, the Church, and the Earth: Collecting Practices in Geosciences
Date: 17 March 2023, 4 to 5:30 p.m. (CET)
organised by Victor Monnin and Maddalena Napolitani and featuring talks by Maria Toscano and Angela Strauß.
Zoom link for participating in the flyer:
INHIGEO Webinar: First meeting
Title: Histories of Volcanology
Date: 24 February 2023, 4 to 5:30 p.m. (CET)
organised by Victor Monnin and Maddalena Napolitani and featuring talks by Loredana Lancini and Daniele Musumeci.
Zoom link for participating in the flyer:
Fig: Participants of the first INHIGEO Webinar
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INHIGEO sponsored conferences and sessions
6th Argentinian Congress and 1st Latin American Congress of History of Geology /
VI Congreso Argentino y I Congreso Latinoamericano de Historia de la Geología, 6–7 October 2023
The 6th Argentinian Congress and 1st Latin American Congress of History of Geology, sponsored by IUGS INHIGEO, took place on 5–6 October 2023 in San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina. The conference themes included events, personalities and institutions related to the history of the Earth sciences in Latin America, from the pre-Hispanic and colonial periods until recent times.
The aim of the meeting was to reinforce mutual knowledge and collaboration between geosciences and humanities. 27 presentations highlighted research covering a broad geographical range from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Peru.
Figure: Participants at the congress venue Centro Cultural AlbertoRougés in San Miguel de Tucumán (Argentina) and the cover of the extended abstracts volume.
48th INHIGEO Annual Symposium, Kraków (Poland), 31 July – 4 August 2023
This INHIGEO conference was held at the headquarters of the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences in Krakow. It included a one-day field trip in the middle of the conference and a five-day field trip before the conference (July 26-30).
Main topics of the conference were the
1) history of geological mapping
2) history of mining and old mines as objects of geological and mining heritage and their contemporary use (tourist, balneological objects, etc.)
3) history of geodiversity conservation and the formation of geoparks
4) origin and development of geological research
5) general contributions and biographies of famous geologists
Figure: Participants visiting historic mines during the pre-conference fieldtrip
Histories of Earth Sciences: Visual and Interdisciplinary Approaches amid an Environmental Crisis
Varese (Italy) June 6th 2023.
A one-day conference sponsored by INHIGEO, organized by members Maddalena Napolitani (Italy) and Victor Monnin (France), was hosted by the Center for the History of the Mountains, Material Culture and Earth Sciences of the University of Insubria in Varese. Themes pursued two related objectives: (1) considering new interdisciplinary approaches to study the history and the images of Earth sciences and (2) reflecting on the responsibilities that come with studying the history of Earth sciences amid a global, environmental crisis. Eleven speakers representing 8 countries across Europe, Africa and North America took part in this lively and highly interesting forum for young PhD students and early career scholars interested in the history of the geological sciences with talks elaborating on aspects of visual, literary, archival and material sources.
Fig: Group photo of speakers in front of Villa Toeplitz where theCenter for the History of the Mountains, Material Culture and Earth Sciences is located (Varese, Italy), together with the director of the centre Ezio Vaccari (INHIGEO President).
INHIGEO sponsored History of Volcanology session at the 28th International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG) General Assembly, Berlin, Germany, 17th July 2023
V10 History of Volcanology and Historical Volcanology
INHIGEO members Claudia Principe (Italy) and Martina Kölbl-Ebert (Germany) organized a history of volcanology session at the 28th IUGG on behalf of the IUGS INHIGEO. This cross-disciplinary symposium forms part of our outreach activities where we interact with scientific congresses in order to raise awareness of the history of our science.
11 papers were presented on topics ranging from history of experiments, models, paintings and archives/publications of volcanic eruptions together with historical studies of eruptions and their effects on society and scientific theory related to Laki, Vesuvius, Etna, Phlegrean Fields, Ries Crater, St. Vincent, Montserrat and Dominica. The session aroused great interest among the congress participants who crowded the session room to hear the historical talks and question the speakers – great result by all involved in raising awareness in the history of our science!!
Fig: Co-convenersClaudia Principe (Member INHIGEO Italy) and Martina Kölbl-Ebert (INHIGEO Secretary-General) with Ezio Vaccari (INHIGEO President) at the IUGG in Berlin (July 2023).
INHIGEO sponsored History of Palaeontology symposium at the 6th International Palaeontological Congress: “From Gondwana to Laurasia”, Khon Kaen, Thailand, 7–11 November 2022
Figure: Members of INHIGEO at the 6th IPC: Michiko Yajima (Japan), Ezio Vaccari (President INHIGEO, Italy), Kathleen Histon (Ireland), Toshihiro Yamada (INHIGEO Vice President for Asia), Sharad Master (INHIGEO vice President for Africa), Maki Yamada (Japan).
INHIGEO/IUGS@60 webinar on the history of the International Geological Congresses
Title: The roots of a geological union for the future of the Earth
Date: 8th October 2022, 13.30–16.00 CET
How the histories of the International Geological Congress reveal the pivotal debates for the birth and the future role of the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS).
This virtual roundtable, organized by INHIGEO in collaboration with the IUGS@60 Team, as part of the celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the IUGS, will concern the history of the International Geological Congress (IGC) within the development of the geosciences from the late 19th century to the end of the 20th century. The aim of this event is also to emphasize and discuss the role of the IGCs for the idea of the foundation of the IUGS and for its development from the 1960s onward.
Moderators: Ezio Vaccari (INHIGEO President) and Martina Kölbl-Ebert (INHIGEO Secretary-General)
Opening address: John Ludden (IUGS President)
The full program is available in the flyer. The event is free, but registration is required in order to receive the ticket and the Zoom link for participating to the webinar.
We really hope that you will be able to take part in this event, which represents a new important interaction between our Commission and the IUGS. In fact, our webinar has been included in the program of the IUGS Earth Science Festival, which will take place from 4 to 28 October, and will be a great opportunity to present the history of geological sciences to a wider general audience.
Figure: Participants of the webinar on the history of the International Geological Congresses
47th INHIGEO Symposium, 14th-25th September 2022, Les Eyzies, FRANCE
Fig: INHIGEO participants assembled in the foyer of the Musée national de la Préhistoire in anticipation of the guided tour prior to the opening reception
Virtual Open Forum – July 11th 2022 (14.00-15.30 CET)
Title: History of the geological sciences – providing resources for society
Moderators: Ezio Vaccari (President) and Martina Kölbl-Ebert (Secretary-General)
Our first webinar was an informal presentation of this new online INHIGEO initiative with an open discussion and 'call for webinars' on possible interdisciplinary topics for the series which will start in Autumn 2022.
Thanks to everyone for participating and creating a stimulating forum for discussion and proposing wonderful ideas for future webinars!
Great to see friends and colleagues from around the world (representing 17 countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, North and South America) and across time zones!
Thanks especially to our young scholars, PhD students and early career researchers for bringing new ideas that can help foster more interest and research on the history of the geological sciences from both the scientific and humanistic communities of INHIGEO.
Figure: INHIGEO Virtual Open Forum, July 2022
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INHIGEO Affiliated Groups, Associations and Societies
Short overviews of the INHIGEO affiliated history of geology groups, associations and societies from around the world are given below in order to highlight their national activities and encourage networking and collaboration between INHIGEO members worldwide.
International:
Title: History of Earth Sciences Society (HESS)
Brief overview:
The History of Earth Sciences Society (HESS) was founded in 1982 to provide a venue where historians of earth sciences and geoscientists interested in the history of their disciplines could benefit from the mutual exchange of ideas. With an international membership, HESS provides breadth and is cosmopolitan in composition and outlook.
The main activity of HESS is to publish twice yearly the refereed journal Earth Sciences History. Topics of scholarly papers include the origin, evolution and philosophical underpinnings of ideas concerning the Earth; the impact of institutions on the development of the earth sciences; research methodologies used in the earth sciences; and analyses of the lives and contributions of prominent workers in the field. While HESS does not organize stand-alone meetings, it does publish conference proceedings for other organizations including INHIGEO, HOGG and the History and Philosophy of Geology Division of GSA.
Website: www.historyearthscience.org
Journal / frequency of issue: Earth Sciences History (twice yearly)
Argentina:
Title: Comisión Argentina de Historia de la Geología (COHISGEO) [Argentine Commission on the History of Geology]
Section of national society: Asociación Geológica Argentina
(Argentine Geological Association)
Brief overview:
The Argentine Geological Conferences or Congresses, starting in 1960, initially included contributions dedicated to history of the development of geological knowledge. In this way the Argentine Congresses on the History of Geology were born.
Following the first, in November 2007, there was agreement on the need to create an Argentine Commission for the History of Geology, under the sponsorship of the Argentine Geological Association (AGA). The request was approved on July 16, 2009. Since then, one of the most important objectives of this commission has been the organization, every three years of congresses on the history of geology, all of which have resulted in a substantial advance in the field.
Website: https://geologica.org.ar
Member Bulletin / Circular / frequency of issue: At the moment there is no Bulletin/circular beyond those provided by the Argentine Geological Association.
Journal / frequency of issue: The only publications sponsored by the Commission are, every three years, the proceedings of the Argentine Congresses on the History of Geology.
Austria:
Title: AG Geschichte der Erdwissenschaften [Working Group History of Earth Sciences of the Austrian Geological Society]
Section of national society:
Austrian Geological Society
Brief overview:
The Working Group on the History of Earth Sciences of the Austrian Geological Society was founded on February 1, 1999, in Graz on the initiative of Bernhard Hubmann. At its conferences, the working group brings together all interested parties from related sciences and institutions, including the Montanhistorischer Verein für Österreich or the Austrian Society for the History of Science. In addition, representatives of scientific institutions such as the Austrian Academy of Sciences, of archives and state museums take part in the yearly symposia. The publications are made possible with the support of the Austrian Geological Society and the Federal Geological Survey.
Website:
https://www.geologie.or.at/index.php/ueber/arbeitsgruppen/geschichte-der-erdwissenschaften
Journal / frequency of issue:
A volume in the series “Berichte der Geologischen Bundesanstalt” (Reports of the Geological Federal Institute) is published annually.
Australia:
Title: Earth Sciences History Group
Section of national society:
Geological Society of Australia
Brief overview:
The Earth Sciences History Group of the GSA (ESHG) was founded in 1984 with the aims of stimulating interest and research in the following areas related to Australasia:
- Evolution of earth science philosophy and research;
- Biographical studies of prominent earth scientists;
- Historical development of earth science institutions;
- Preservation of the heritage relating to earth science history, for example: books, maps, oral history and reminiscences, old mining sites, classic geological sites.
To further these aims, the ESHG publishes newsletters as well as making contributions to The Australian Geologist on historical and heritage topics. It organizes conferences and contributes to relevant sections in Australian Earth Sciences Conventions.
Website: www.gsa.org.au
Member Bulletin / Circular / frequency of issue:
Earth Sciences History Group email bulletin, issued several times a year.
Journal / frequency of issue:
Articles published in The Australian Geologist, the GSA’s quarterly magazine.
Awards: Tom Vallance Medal
https://www.gsa.org.au/Public/Specialist/Earth_Sciences_History_ESHG/Tom_Vallance_Medal/Public/Specialist_Groups/ESHG_Sub_Pages/ESHG_Recognition.aspx?hkey=0cc09a0a-b483-459c-9a1a-e1088650b325
Chile:
Title: Grupo de Especialistas en Historia de la Geología [Chilean Group of Specialists in the History of Geology]
Section of national society:
Sociedad Geológica de Chile
(Geological Society of Chile) founded in 1962.
Brief overview:
The group, organized in the early 2000´s, aims at studying the life and scientific contribution of pioneers of the geological activity in Chile and Latin America. The evolution through time of geological interpretations of the territories is also considered. It organizes Symposia and seminars on the subject on a yearly basis. In November 2022, the XII Symposium was held at Iquique.
Website: www.sociedadgeológica.cl
https://sociedadgeologica.cl/historia-de-geologia/
Journal Name & frequency of issue:
Proceedings of the Annual Symposia are published with local distribution.
China:
Title: Chinese Commission on the History of Geology
Brief overview:
Affiliated with the Geological Society of China and China University of Geosciences (Beijing), the Chinese Commission on the History of Geology was founded in 1980. The Commission organizes an annual academic conference. In addition, it has also organized 3 international symposia, as well as many seminars and public lectures. It has published 7 issues of Essays on History of Geology, which is a publication issued occasionally that forms an important contribution to the history of geosciences in China. The Commission has been an essential platform for Chinese scholars to carry out research in the history of geosciences.
Website: https://zrwh.cugb.edu.cn/dzxs/gddxsx/
Member Bulletin/circular: Newsletter of History of Geology, 21 issues have been published.
Journal / frequency of issue:
History of Geology, issued occasionally.
France:
Title: Comité français d’histoire de la géologie (Cofrhigéo) [French Committee for the History of Geology]
Brief overview:
Created in 1976 by François Ellenberger, the COFRHIGÉO contributes to the development of research devoted to the history of geology and Earth sciences from their earliest origins, in particular by promoting of research carried out by French-speaking authors.
Because it is as important to understand the deep reasons for ignorance, prejudices and errors as it is for progress and discoveries, COFRHIGÉO promotes epistemological reflection on the methods and aims of geological research by analysing the paradigms and controversies of both the ancient and recent past.
The Committee meets 3 times a year (March, June, December) in Paris for communications. The December session is associated with the general assembly.
Website: https://annales.org/archives/cofrhigeo/
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/COFRHIGEO
Journal / frequency of issue:
The authors of communications are invited to submit a paper to be published in the Travaux du COFRHIGÉO, the annual publication of the Committee.
Italy:
Title: History of Geosciences Section [Sezione di Storia delle Geoscienze]
Section of national society:
Geological Society of Italy
Brief overview:
The History of Geosciences Section was established in 2012 with the aim of rediscovering the roots of the geological disciplines by analysing the work of scientists who contributed to the development of modern scientific thought.
The Section achieves its activities through the organisation of seminars and conferences. It also disseminates its activities through social channels and a blog (www.geoitaliani.it) that collects writings with the aim of retracing the history of the Earth Sciences through the biographies of the men and women who worked in these fields: from the pioneers of the natural sciences and the founding fathers of the modern geological disciplines, to those who have led the geosciences into the 21st century.
Website: www.geoitaliani.it
facebook.com/geoitaliani
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNL6k7NY4pyEt2zKnXYtl8Q
Journal Name & frequency of issue:
“GeologicaMente”, magazine of the Geological Society of Italy, issued quarterly.
Awards: Prize "Quintino Sella for the History of Geosciences" in honor of Nicoletta Morello and Bruno Accordi.
https://www.socgeol.it/N2590/biennial-prize-quintino-sella-for-the-history-of-geosciences-in-honor-of-nicoletta-morello-and-bruno-accordi-competition-notice-2022.html
Japan:
Title: Japanese Association for the History of Geosciences (JAHIGEO)
Brief overview:
Founded in 1994 after the 100th anniversary of the Geological Society of Japan in 1993. Two annual meetings in June and December. The study group Chigaku-shi kenkyu-kai conducts meetings four times a year.
Website: https://independent.academia.edu/JapaneseAssociationfortheHistoryofGeologyJahigeo
Member Bulletin / Circular / frequency of issue: JAHIGEO Bulletin issued twice yearly in Japanese.
Journal / frequency of issue: JAHIGEO Newsletter issued once a year in English.
Poland:
Title: Polish Commission on the History of Geological Sciences (POCHIGEO)
Section of national society:
POCHIGEO operates as an affiliated section of the Main Board of the Polish Geological Society (PGS). The seat of the section is the Polish Geological Institute-National Research Institute (PGI-NRI) in Warsaw, Poland.
Brief overview:
POCHIGEO was founded on January 27, 2015. The main goals of the section are: consolidation of the community of historians of geological sciences, promotion of the achievements of Polish geologists through the publication of articles in international journals, care for the preservation of material heritage (antique books and 19th-century literature, manuscripts, old geological maps, initiating activities aimed at protecting geological and mining heritage).
The activities of the Section take place mainly through the organization of scientific conferences (in the form of online lectures in the pandemic period), participation in PGS Congresses and organization of exhibitions during events important for the geological environment (eg. Polish Geological Congresses). Meetings are held 3-4 times a year.
Website: Polskie Towarzystwo Geologiczne http://www.ptgeol.pl/
Member Bulletin / Circular / frequency of issue:
POCHIGEO does not issue a newsletter.
Journal / frequency of issue:
The Polish Geological Society (PGS) is the publisher of the quarterly: Annales Societatis Geologorum Poloniae http://www.asgp.pl/
Serbia:
Title: History of Geology Division of the Serbian Geological Society [Секција за историју геологије СГД]
Section of national society:
Serbian Geological Society (SGS) / Srpsko geološko društvo (SGD) https://sgd.rs/
The Serbian Geological Society was founded on February 10, 1891, with an objective: "to perform geological investigations of Serbian and other lands of the Balkan Peninsula, as well to inform its members and other interested parties about the achievement in the field of geology and affiliated sciences."
Brief overview:
The History Geology Division of the Serbian Geological Society was founded on June 27, 1991, by the decision of the Annual Assembly of the Serbian Geological Society. The goals of the Section are research related to the history of world and Serbian geology. Members of the Division give lectures or presentations during the annual Spring and Autumn Meetings. To mark special anniversary events sessions can be organized within the Division. The Division was the main organizer of a variety of events celebrating the 125 anniversary of SGD (2016).
Website: https://sgd.rs/en/divisions/
Division web presentation (only in Serbian)
Journal / frequency of issue:
Zapisnici Srpskog geološkog društva / Reports of the Serbian Geological Society.
Issued annually, since 1897.
United Kingdom:
Title: The History of Geology Group (HOGG)
Section of national society:
HOGG is affiliated to the Geological Society of London, U.K.
Brief overview:
The History of Geology Group (HOGG) exists to encourage interest in the history of geology, and in the events and personalities that have shaped the ways in which it is studied and practised today.
HOGG was inaugurated in October 1994 and membership is open to anyone interested in the heritage and development of geology and geoscience and knowledge about the earth and geology and how this has been represented (e.g. through geological maps).
The membership is drawn from a wide range of backgrounds and levels of interest. Activities include an annual programme of online talks, seminars, conferences and field meetings, a discussion forum and a Twitter feed. An AGM is held each November. HOGG represents and promotes the interests, study and understanding of the history of geology nationally (and internationally). HOGG encourages and supports the publication of scholarly papers and communications related to the history of geology.
Websites: https://historyofgeologygroup.co.uk/ https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/hogg
Member Bulletin / Circular / frequency of issue: HOGG Bulletin (approximately every six weeks)
Journal / frequency of issue: GeoHistories (twice yearly)
The primary objective of INHIGEO involves promoting studies in the history of geological disciplines . In so doing, the Commission endeavours to stimulate and coordinate the activities of regional, national, and international organizations having shared purposes. The Commission also works to foster the publication of individual and collective works that illuminate the history of the geological sciences . 
