About IGO

The aims of the International Geoscience Education Organization (IGEO) are to promote geoscience education internationally at all levels, to work for enhancement of the quality of geoscience education internationally and to encourage developments raising public awareness of geoscience, particularly amongst younger people.

To meet these aims, the IGEO monitors international provision of geoscience education and foster communications between geoscience educators worldwide. It liaises with international and national bodies concerned with geoscience education, with international professional geoscience bodies, such as the International Union of Geological Sciences (of which it is an affiliate) and with international bodies concerned with science education.

IGEO is led by a Council formed from one member from each interested country. Council meetings, ether by email or face to face, occur regularly.

IGEO runs an international Conference approximately every four years, alternating with a representation at the International Geological Congress, which also takes place at four year intervals.

You can download a brief history of IGEO (June. 2021 updated) here and IGEO plans for the future here.

Constitution

The International Geoscience Education Organisation (IGEO) was formed on Tuesday 18 January 2000 at the 3^rd International Conference on Geoscience Education in Sydney, Australia

1. Aims

The aims of IGEO are:

1. to promote geoscience education internationally at all levels;
2. to work for the enhancement of quality in the international provision of geoscience education;
3. to encourage developments that raise public awareness of geoscience, particularly amongst younger people.

2.  Activities

The International Geoscience Education Organisation shall:

1. monitor international provision for geoscience education at all levels;
2. foster communication between geoscience educators worldwide at all levels;
3. liaise with international and national bodies concerned with geoscience education;
4. liaise with international professional geoscience bodies;
5. liaise with international bodies concerned with science education.

3. Organisation

3.1. The Organisation shall be lead by a Council.

3.2. Council Composition

(i) The Council shall consist of an appropriate number of persons, appointed as follows:

            a.  Officers

            A Chairperson;

            A Vice-Chairperson;

            A Secretary/Treasurer;

            A Newsletter Editor;

            Convenor  of next Conference

            b.  Committee

            One member from each country seeking representation on the Council, up to a
            maximum number to be determined by the Council.

3.3. Council Operation

1. The Officers shall be elected by the Council from the country delegates
2. The chairperson shall normally officiate for the interval between conferences
3. Council Officers shall normally be appointed for the interval between conferences. Other Council members may be appointed or co-opted.
4. Observers may attend Council meetings, but shall not be entitled to vote.
5. Where Council members are unable to attend meetings, substitution may be allowed with agreement of the Chairperson.
6. The Secretary shall be responsible for notifying the members of meetings and inviting items for the agenda before a meeting. The Secretary will circulate the agenda to members in advance of the meeting. The Secretary shall send the minutes of each meeting to each member within four weeks of the meeting.

3.4. Council Meetings

1. The Council shall meet as frequently as reasonable. Non-Council members may address the Council on specific topics if the Council so wished
2. The Council may form fixed term Working Groups or ongoing Subcommittees, to deal with special topics.

3.5. Council Duties

1. Oversee the preparation of the succeeding conference.
2. Preparation and dissemination of a newsletter.
3. Work towards achieving the objectives expressed in 1.1

IUGS/COGE

We are affiliated with the IUGS and are strongly related to the Commission of Geoscience Education.