The seventy-seventh Geological Congress of Türkiye, one of our country`s oldest and most prestigious scientific organizations, will be held between 14 and 18 April 2025 at MTA General Directorate Culture Site. The main theme is `Mining and Environment.`
Anatolia, with its geological structure and rich mineral deposits, has a profound historical significance. It has hosted the oldest mining activities in history, which started thousands of years ago and played a pivotal role in the cultural and economic development of civilizations. The close relationship between human history and mining is evident, with some mines even giving their names to historical eras. Today, the development of civilization is intricately linked to the development of mining.
Mining is the process of bringing minerals that take tens of thousands and millions of years to form into the economy, is a complex and labor-intensive field. Earth Science Engineers play a crucial role in all stages, from exploration to discovery, operation, and post-operation rehabilitation. With the increasing needs of civilization, mining has become widespread, from sea floors to deserts, from the peaks of high mountains to plains, and is now carried out in enterprises spread over areas of kilometers square.
Despite the mining and environmental policies developed by countries, widespread mining activities have threatened the environment. This situation has been taken into consideration by the United Nations, andvarious programs an d principles have been developed to manage the environmental impacts of mining activities and support sustainable development.
In the 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015, attention was drawn to the impacts of mining on the environment, and the aim was to reduce this impact. In particular, targets such as `Clean Water and Sanitation` (Goal 6), `Responsible Production and Consumption` (Goal 12), and `Climate Action` (Goal 13) aim to promote environmentally friendly practices in the mining sector. In line with these targets, issues such as conducting mining activities without polluting natural resources, improving waste management, and reducing carbon emissions are emphasized.
Developing environmentally friendly mining techniques, efficient use of resources, and protection of natural life are now critical issues in today`s geological science. Sustainable mining is an approach that aims to minimize damage to the environment and ecosystems while obtaining natural resources. In this context, geoscience engineers are expected to determine the possible effects on the ecosystem of the region by examining the geological structure of the region where the resource is to be extracted in detail, as well as finding and evaluating mineral deposits, making geological analyses, making plans for the protection of groundwater resources and soil structure in the region where the mining process will be carried out.
Our Congress is a platform that aims to provide accurate and effective information to society and decision-makers. It focuses on crucial issues such as the exploration and discovery of minerals, which are fundamental to the development of our civilization, and the measures needed to minimize the environmental impact of mining activities. Additionally, our congress serves as a forum for discussing basic issues related to geosciences and promoting communication among researchers dedicated to geosciences.
Our 77th Congress will be realised successfully and in a manner befitting the geoscience community with the participation and contributions of our esteemed colleagues. We would also like to state in advance that we would be happy to receive support from fellow geoscientists in organising special sessions, exhibitions, panels, technical tours or social events during the Congress.
Organising Committee
