GSNI celebrates its 70th anniversary this year and is hosting a symposium to mark this occasion.

The audience will hear dual presentations from GSNI scientists together with their research partners from the public, private and voluntary sectors in the UK and Ireland on geoscience research and innovation which benefits the economy, infrastructure, environment, tourism, health and education. Talk sessions will be punctuated with video montages, panel discussions, photography and map viewing, interactive displays and awards.

This symposium will be of interest to delegates from government organisations, councils, industry, universities and NGOs across the geoscience sector on the island of Ireland.

An art exhibition and drinks reception will follow the symposium at 16:30.

09:00 Registration

Opening Session

Chair: Dr Marie Cowan, Director GSNI

09:30 Welcome and GSNI overview

• Koen Verbruggen, Director Geological Survey Ireland
• Professor John Ludden CBE, Executive, Director British Geological Survey
• Dr Andrew McCormick, Permanent Secretary Department for the Economy

09:50 Geological Surveys: Meeting the Challenge

Sir Keith O’Nions, Chair BGS and Cambridge Enterprise Boards

10:10 Geological Survey: baseline information for sustainable societies and economies

Professor Mark Cooper, Chief Geologist GSNI and Dr Katie Whitbread, BGS

Session: NextGen STEM

Chair: Dr Kirstin Lemon, Information and Infrastructure Team Leader, GSNI

10:30 Judith Harvey, Group Head of Education and Public Affairs for the Odyssey Trust

Schools Video competition vote

11:00 Coffee, networking, interactive displays

Session: Infrastructure and Landscape session

Chair: Dr Sherry Palmer, Environmental Auditor

11:30 Research and innovation in geohazard management

Kieran Parker, GSNI and Dr David Hughes, QUB

11:50 Geotechnical information for planning and development

Alex Donald, GSNI and Dr Diarmad Campbell, BGS

12:10 Using geoscience to enhance tourism and support education in Northern Ireland

Dr Kirstin Lemon, GSNI and Professor Patrick McKeever, UNESCO

12:30 Question and Answers panel

13:00 Lunch, networking and interactive displays

Session: Natural Resources in the National Interest

Chair: Lorraine Fleming, Head of Minerals and Petroleum Branch, Department for the Economy

14:00 Groundwater in Northern Ireland: past, present and future

Dr Paul Wilson, GSNI and Dr Silke Hartmann, NIEA

14:20 Investing in Mineral Exploration

Mark Patton, GSNI and Sean Finlay, Geoscience Ireland

14:40 Aggregates: the foundation to NI’s Construction sector

Dr Marie Cowan, GSNI and Gordon Best, QPANI

14:55 Clean energy: the role of geology

Derek Reay, GSNI and Sam Knox, Invest NI

15:15 UK geoenergy observatories (UKGEOS): changing the way

Geological Surveys work

Professor John Ludden CBE, Executive Director BGS

15:30 Questions and Answers panel

Closing session

Chair: Professor Mark Cooper, Chief Geologist GSNI

15:50 Awards and acknowledgements

1. Early career award
2. Special publication award
3. STEMinist award

16:00 Drinks reception, networking and interactive displays

Chair: Dr Marie Cowan, Director GSNI

16:30 Commissioned GSNI 70th artworks launch

17:30 *Event Ends*