First International Union of Geological SciencesSymposium

Resourcing Future Generations

www.IGC2020.ca

2018

www.resourcethefuture.ca??

A short history

• May, 2010: CFES Council approves bid for IGC2020• Fall, 2010: contract with NRC – Conference Services• March, 2011: Selection of Vancouver as hosting city• 2011: strong bid committee, endorsement from governments,

associations– Endorsement from USA organisations

• Jan-April, 2012: Preparation of bid document and video; industry sponsors on board

• August, 2012: Presentation of bid in Brisbane, Australia– India wins the bid process

• Sept 2012 on: two competing concepts– Rebid for 2024– Bring to IUGS concept of focused meeting between IGCs

Structure of the Bid

• President: Marc D’Iorio• Chair of Committee: Bill Mercer• Committee: 24 people representing most council members,

including professors, industry, convention managers, association professionals

• Letters of support: the Prime Minister, Premier of BC, NRC, NRCAN, The BC Assembly of First Nations

• Endorsements: Various international bodies (USGS, Servicio Geológico Mexicano, AAAS, AAPG, AGI, AGU, AASG, GSA)

• Numerous founding industry sponsors (ALS Minerals, CGF, HDI, Stantec, Talisman, Teck, Tetra Tech, Vale)

Rebid for 2024

• Vancouver and the Convention Centre were on board

• NRC was on board

• But….there would be no guarantee

Outcome of IGC 2020 bid

Downside

•Clarification of the politics of the process– Huge number of member countries– Only 25 congresses every 100 years

Upside– We were told that “yours is the most

professional bid for an International Congress I have ever seen”: a voting delegate

– (But the “most professional bid did not win!)

Concept

• A conference in 2018 “between IGCs”

• Already endorsed by IUGS, and theme suggested by IUGS of “Resourcing Future Generations”

• Canada’s would be the first of many conferences like this, with focused themes, between IGCs

• We would be setting the bar for others

The IUGS Theme

Resourcing Future Generationsthe concept of IUGS

Main Themes

Minerals

Energy

Water

Subthemes

• Supply and demand• Studying the subsurface• Where are the resources• Building support and

capacity in developing world

IUGS Executive Committee want to have their January 2015 Meeting in Vancouver as part of

this preparation

Resourcing Future GenerationsAn ideal symposium theme for Canada

• Canada is a resource rich country: we have a lot to “show off”

• Canada is host to more mineral exploration companies that any other country globally

• Canada has among the top petroleum resources in the world

• Our geoscientists in industry and academia are recognised as second to none in resource exploration and development

Resourcing Future GenerationsAn ideal symposium theme for Canada

• The resource theme can encompass a wide range of disciplines– Igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic geology– Structural geology– Quaternary geology (exploration, geotechnical,

infrastructure development– Northern themes (climate change, permafrost)– Mineral and petroleum exploration geology and

methods– Professional geology

Resourcing Future GenerationsEndorsement

• The Canadian government would likely be a partner for a resource focused meeting

• Industry would be interested• We have no reason to not expect similar

endorsement as before from non-members (AGI, GSA, AAPG, etc)

• Mexico and Greenland• Associations such as SEG may come on

board

Resourcing Future GenerationsCritical Support

• The City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Convention Centre are on board, and have space for August 2018

• National Research Council Convention Services would work with us: critical for financial security

Resourcing Future GenerationsHow to do it

• CFES approves proceeding• Appoint chair based in Vancouver• Form committees

– Now: Executive committee (5? based in Vancouver)– Later: Conference committee (national, perhaps the

previous one reformed)

Resourcing Future GenerationsVancouver Executive Committee Responsibilities

• Immediately: – Prepare action plan– Select date and notify IUGS– Start negotiation with NRC-convention services– Start negotiation with Vancouver City and Convention

Centre– Meet with key organisations (NRCAN-GSC, AMEBC, etc)– Seek minor endorsement funding from industry to fund

initial work• Within 3 months

– Start formation of National Conference Committee

Vancouver

Congress Venue

Sponsors

Field Trips

Congress Social / Family Trips

GeoHost and Legacy

Benefits for CFES

• Will give a focus to CFES being the umbrella organisation in Canada – bringing together minerals, petroleum, academia, industry, government

• Has promise of potential revenue that could be base of a foundation for CFES

• Enhance the profile of CFES in Canada among geoscientists, government, public

RECOMMENDATION

At this meeting:

•CFES council should vote to head the conference in 2018 “Resourcing Future Generations” and convey this conclusion to IUGS

•All council associations should commit to provide on national committee member