New Delhi: The Geological Survey of India will host a two-day international seminar, “Unearthing the Past, Shaping the Future: 175 Years of GSI”, on 20–21 November at the Rajasthan International Centre in Jaipur as part of its 175th anniversary events.

The inaugural session will be addressed by Union Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy, alongside Piyush Goyal, Secretary, Ministry of Mines, and T Ravikanth, Principal Secretary, Mines and Petroleum, Government of Rajasthan.

The seminar is being led by Asit Saha, Director General of GSI and Patron of the event, with Vijay V Mugal, Additional Director General and Head of the Western Region, serving as Chairman. Senior officials, researchers and geoscience experts from India and abroad are set to participate.

Founded in 1851, GSI has contributed to geological mapping, mineral exploration, the discovery of critical minerals and geohazard studies, while building scientific capacity for national development. The international seminar aims to bring together specialists to discuss emerging challenges, new technologies and the future of geoscience.

The technical sessions will feature nine plenary lectures, 19 special lectures and more than 300 scientific and poster presentations across 11 themes. Experts from the British Geological Survey, United States Geological Survey, Geoscience Australia and leading universities including Lancaster University, the University of Michigan, the University of Texas and the Italian National Research Council will take part.

An exhibition showcasing advanced technologies and geospatial tools by leading institutions and industry partners will run during the event. The seminar will also see the signing of MoUs with IIT Bombay and IIT Kharagpur to strengthen collaboration in frontier geoscience research and capacity building.

BI Bureau