About the Committee The United States is a member of the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) through the National Academy of Sciences, which serves as the adhering body to the union. The U.S. National Committee for the International Union of Geological Sciences (USNC/IUGS) serves as a focal point for U.S. discussions on how to maintain best the viability and relevance of the geological sciences internationally. The committee provides guidance and input to the IUGS on these issues, and plans and implements U.S. participation in furthering the goals and work of the IUGS. The USNC/IUGS works in cooperation with scientific societies and seeks their input on nominations to the committee. Committee membership includes scientists who have expertise in a variety of geological disciplines, including volcanology, seismicity, tectonics, remote sensing, and petrology, and who have received honors in their field. Members are drawn from academia, research, government, and industry. The USNC/IUGS conducts an outreach program to the American geoscience community that includes providing information to the community about union and committee activities; sponsoring symposia at scientific association meetings on
topics of international interest in the geosciences; and advocating participation in international interdisciplinary projects on such issues as biodiversity and megacities. The committee also acts as the U.S. adhering body to the International Geoscience Programme (IGCP). The IGCP is a joint IUGS/UNESCO program developed to facilitate international research in geology. Grants from the IGCP go to multinational research teams involved in research of an international scope.		Taphoni weathering along an uplifted wavecut notch on a small island just west of Vancouver Island

About the Union The International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) was founded in March of 1961 in response to a need to coordinate geoscientific international research programs on a continuing basis. Geoscientists felt that a mechanism was required to take action on global geological problems between the International Geological Congresses, traditionally held every four years. IUGS promotes and encourages the study of geological problems, especially those of world-wide significance, and supports and facilitates international and interdisciplinary cooperation in the earth sciences. At present IUGS gives special consideration to initiatives related to the identification and assessment of energy and mineral resources, global change, geologic hazards, and environmental geology.
		IUGS fosters dialogue and communication among the various specialists in earth sciences around the world. It achieves this by organizing international projects and meetings, sponsoring symposia and scientific field trips, and producing publications. Topics addressed span the gamut from fundamental research to its economic and industrial applications, from scientific, environmental and social issues to educational and developmental problems.
For example, IUGS is currently involved in: Identifying and defining problems critical to an improved understanding of terrestrial and planetary geological processes Encouraging formulation and testing of new geological concepts, models, and methodologies Focusing effort internationally on the study of critical economic or environmental problems whose resolution may depend on an understanding of geology Fostering international agreement on nomenclature and classification in several geoscientific disciplines such as startigraphy, petrology, and tectonics Strengthening mechanisms for facilitating international cooperation in geological research and exchange Improving publication, dissemination, and use of geological information internationally Encouraging new relationships between and among disciplines of science that relate to geology worldwide Attracting competent students and research workers who will devote their attention to geology, and to stimulate excellent education for students interested in geology Fostering an increased awareness among individual scientists world-wide of what programs are being carried out in geology in each country Promoting public understanding and appreciation of the planet earth, its environment in space, and their study Furthering the public welfare by assuring that geology makes appropriate contribution to public policy decisions of an international nature