The Institute of Geologists of Ireland

IGA Save the Date - Irish Geological Association Members’ Night
2024-12-18
The Irish Geological Association Members’ Night will take place on Wednesday 18th December.
More details shortly!

Belfast Geologist’s Society Talk: “Finding unmarked graves of all ages across the world”
2025-01-14 19:00 (Europe/Dublin) | ZOOM
Joint event with Belfast Naturalists Field Club
Online only via Zoom on 14th January 2025 at 7pm,
“Finding unmarked graves of all ages across the world” by Benjamin Rocke (QUB) and Dr Alastair Ruffell (QUB and Geological Society NI Regional Group).
Geology, soils, topography and vegetation can all be used with other information to locate unmarked graves: how?
One approach would be to have separate specialists conduct ground surveys and combine their results. We have developed another way, using software modelled drone-derived imagery, verified on the ground by visual means, geophysics and in some cases assessment by scent dogs and ultimately, excavation by qualified archaeologists. The model was developed successfully in Ireland for locating homicide and Irish Famine graves, then extended to the Americas (Philadelphia, Colombia) and thence to Kenya and Arctic Sweden. Other workers have used the method in the Middle East. The talk will use case studies from each of the above, focusing on the human-interest aspects and environments of each, as opposed to too much on remote sensing and geophysical technology.
Zoom details
Time: Jan 14, 2025 07:00 PM Greenwich Mean Time
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81289739261?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 812 8973 9261
Passcode: [REDACTED]

IAH Ireland Water Well Drilling Workshop
2025-01-15 | Trinity College, Dublin, Dublin, D02 KV91, Ireland
The Irish Group of the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH) is excited to announce an engaging Water Well Drilling Workshop, taking place on the 15th of January in Trinity College Dublin.
This comprehensive workshop is designed for professionals, practitioners, and anyone passionate about sustainable water resource management. Whether you’re a hydrogeologist, engineer, or industry stakeholder, this event offers a valuable opportunity to enhance your knowledge and skills in the critical field of water well drilling.
Spaces are limited, so don’t miss out on this chance to gain insights into best practices and innovative techniques for water well drilling.
More details on the event schedule, registration details and costs are available at this Eventbrite link: IAH Water Well Drilling Workshop Tickets, Wed, Jan 15, 2025 at 9:00 AM | Eventbrite

iGEO 2024 Conference
2025-01-17 - 2025-01-18 | University of Galway, University Road,, Galway,, H91 TK33, Ireland
iGEO2024 Conference will now take place on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th January 2025.
For those who have already registered you will receive an email shortly with more information. The registration form for the main event can be found here:
iGEO 2024 Registration Form
You can find more information and be added to a mailing list about the event from this link: iGEO 2024 (wordpress.com)

Belfast Geologists’ Society Talk: “Linking Geology And Art In The Field”
2025-01-20 19:00 | ZOOM
This online-only talk will be held via Zoom on 20th January 2025 at 7pm.
“Linking Geology And Art In The Field”
to be given by Phoebe Sleath (University Of Aberdeen).
Further information can be found at this link: https://belfastgeologists.org/index.php/2024/11/26/linking-geology-and-art-in-the-field/
Zoom details
Time: Jan 20, 2025 07:00 PM Greenwich Mean TimeJoin Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88691437708?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 886 9143 7708
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Royal Irish Academy / Geological Survey Ireland Lecture
2025-01-21 18:00 - 19:30 | Royal Irish Academy, Dublin and online, 19 Dawson Street, Dublin 2,, Dublin, D02 HH58, Ireland
The Royal Irish Academy is pleased to be partnering with Geological Survey Ireland to present a series of annual geoscience lectures. The aim of the lecture series is to raise awareness of geosciences and their relevance to society’s needs and challenges.
The inaugural lecture, entitled “Geoscience Solutions for the Climate Crisis” will be held on Tuesday 21 January 2025 at 6.00pm at the Royal Irish Academy, 19 Dawson Street, Dublin 2, D02 HH58.
The lecture will be given by Professor Chris Jackson (Technical Director at the engineering consultancy WSP and Visiting Professor of Basin Analysis at Imperial College London) who will explore how geoscience can support the development of low-carbon energy resources and the important role that geostorage will play in the transition to sustainable energy.
The lecture will be followed by a panel discussion with Ireland-based geologists to bring an Irish perspective to the topic. Chris is interested in understanding how we can use the Earth’s subsurface to safely store hazardous waste (‘geostorage’) and to develop low-carbon energy resources (‘geoenergy’).
When not studying what’s beneath his feet, Chris gives geoscience lectures to the public and in schools, having appeared on several Earth Science-focused, television productions and podcasts. Chris is engaged in efforts to improve equality, diversity, and inclusivity in Higher Education and society more generally.
Book your ticket here.

Galway Geological Association (GGA) Lecture: “Irish Peat as an Atmospheric Archive”
2025-01-21 19:00 | ZOOM
GGA will be holding a lecture, via Zoom on Tuesday 21st January at 19:00.
The lecture is entitled “Irish Peat as an Atmospheric Archive” and will be given by Dr Lucy Blennerhassett from iCRAG/UCD.
Dr Blennerhassett speaks on new techniques that interrogate the environmental archives provided by bogs in Ireland.
To request the Zoom link, email galwaygeology@gmail.com

Cork Geological Association (CGA) lecture
2025-01-29 19:30
The Cork Geological Association will be holding a lecture via Zoom on 29th January at 7.30pm when they are delighted to host Dr. Iwan Stӧssel (University of Zurich) discoverer of the Valentia Island tetrapod trackway.
Title of lecture: “Steps in Time – Discovering the Irish Tetrapod Trackway”.
The discovery of a Devonian tetrapod trackway on Valentia Island was published 30 years ago.
This turned out to be a minor scientific sensation, because until then only a few body fossils and even fewer trackway finds had been known from the Devonian period. However, the track from Ireland stood out due to its size and exceptional preservation. Since then, our knowledge of Devonian tetrapods has expanded considerably. But new findings have also been added to the discovery on Valentia.
The tracks are still an important source of information on the question of how and when the first land vertebrates evolved. Iwan will look back at the time of the discovery and give an overview of the more recent findings.
To receive the Zoom link please register by emailing b.higgs@ucc.ie

GSNI Northern Ireland Geothermal Webinar Series
2025-01-30 15:00 - 16:00 | Webinar
The first webinar in the 2025 Northern Ireland Geothermal Webinar Series is taking place on the 30th of January between 15:00 and 16:00. Cornelia Steiner from GeoSphere Austria will introduce the new interactive Geothermal Atlas for Vienna, Austria.
This tool showcases the potential for shallow geothermal systems, by illustrating resources and possible limitations for the use of groundwater heat pumps and borehole heat exchangers.
Register via the Eventbrite link here Geothermal Atlas: Potential for Shallow Geothermal Systems in Vienna Tickets, Thu 30 Jan 2025 at 15:00 | Eventbrite

IAH (Irish Group) Annual David Burdon Memorial Lecture
2025-02-04 18:00 | ARUP Offices Dublin, 50 Ringsend Rd, Dublin 4, Dublin, D04 T6X0, Ireland
The annual Burdon Lecture will be on Tuesday 4th February 2025 at 6pm (with tea & coffee from 5:30pm) at the Arup office, 50 Ringsend Road, Dublin 4.
The lecture is entitled “Challenges and experience of hydrogeology in the World’s largest refugee camp: Kutupalong, Bangladesh” and will be given by Clodagh Gillen, a member of Groundwater Relief’s Rapid Response Unit.
Amidst the Covid pandemic in 2021, Clodagh went to Kutapalong Refugee Camp to work with Medecins Sans Frontieres and BRAC, supported remotely by Groundwater Relief members.
Key work included capacity building with BRAC for borehole forensics and rehabilitation, groundwater sampling, borehole drilling, and data management. It was challenging but highly rewarding, and in this lecture, Clodagh will outline some of the hydrogeological work and challenges faced in the World’s largest refugee camp.
Following the talk they will go for dinner at McKenzie’s, Grand Canal. If you intend on joining the dinner, please email burdon@iah-ireland.org.

Belfast Geologists Society event, jointly with Irish Astronomical Association
2025-02-05 | Queens University Belfast, University Rd, Belfast BT7 1NN,, Belfast, BT7 1NN, United Kingdom
Live talk (no Zoom) 5th February – Dr Mike Simms – Time tbc.
Larmor Lecture Theatre, Physics Building, Queen’s University, Belfast.
There will be a reminder closer to the time or check relevant websites –https://belfastgeologists.org/index.php/events/lectures/ (where there are details of many other upcoming events) and https://irishastro.org/

Irish Geological Association (IGA) Lecture
2025-02-05 19:00 | ZOOM
The IGA will be holding a lecture, via Zoom, on Wednesday 5th February @ 7pm.
It will be given by Dr. Richard Unitt (UCC; Copper Coast Geopark) on “Minerals of Ireland – New Discoveries and New Technology”.
More details will follow presently or email info@geology.ie.
This will be a joint event with Cork Geological Association and the Galway Geological Association GGA.

EFG TRiPGiFT Erasmus Conference
2025-02-11 07:00 - 13:00 | Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration, Spyrou Loyi 1, Acharnes, Athens, Spyrou Loyi 1, Acharnes, Athens, Greece
The European Federation of Geologists (EFG), as a partner of the TRIPGIFT Erasmus+ project, announces its Final Conference:
‘Training pupils on geosciences through Virtual Field Trips’
on 11 February 2025 in Greece.
The conference will be also live-streamed on YouTube, allowing participants to attend online. During this event, EFG External Relations Officer Pavlos Tyrologou will give a welcome speech representing EFG, and EFG Coordinator of the Panel of Experts on Education Maria Tzima will provide a comprehensive presentation on EFG’s activities and involvement in the TRiPGiFT project.
WHEN: 11 February 2025, 09:00-15:00 (Greek Time) / 07:00 – 13:00 (Irish Time)
WHERE: Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration, Spyrou Loyi 1, Acharnes, Athens – https://maps.app.goo.gl/n2Ysjyr8pMQdWzDr5
LIVE STREAM: https://www.youtube.com/@tripgift
TOPICS OF DISCUSSION:
– Innovative educational methodologies and tools from TRiPGiFT
– Best practices in geoscience education
– The role of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) in teaching
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Educators, teachers, parents, students, NGOs, and public organizations interested in geoscience education.
WHY ATTENDING?
– Gain insights into advanced geoscience education methods.
– Engage in fruitful discussions and idea-sharing.
– Receive a Certificate of Attendance.
REGISTER NOW: https://forms.gle/Toewu659x6YFP2328
AGENDA: Available soon on the TRiPGiFT website (https://tripgift.eu)

UCD School of Earth Sciences Seminar Series
2025-02-12 13:00 | University College Dublin and on Zoom, G01, School of Earth Sciences, UCD, Belfield, Dublin 4, D04 V1W8, Ireland
Please see flyer here for this term’s Earth Science seminars.
Bernard Owusu – DIAS & UCD
Prithwijit Chakraborti – UCD & iCRAG
All the Wednesday lunchtime seminars will be given in person at UCD, followed by tea/coffee of notoriously variable quality (high highs, but very low lows), reliably nourishing biscuits, and a chance to connect with and quiz the speaker.
Please do come in if you can make it. For those who can’t, we will also broadcast on Zoom (no recording), with the same link/ID/passcode each week as below.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://ucd-ie.zoom.us/j/62594086210?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 625 9408 6210
Passcode: [REDACTED]
The zoom link is also at the top of the flyer.
Save the flyer for future references as there will be no weekly reminders, unless there is a change to the attached schedule.

iCRAG Research Showcase Event
2025-02-13 09:00 | University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
To mark 10 years of iCRAG, the Research Ireland Centre for Applied Geosciences, a research showcase, “iCRAG@10: Evolving for a Changing World”, will be held in O’Reilly Hall, UCD, Dublin, Thursday February 13th, 2025 at 9:00am.
More details about this event and a link to register now can be found at this Eventbrite link iCRAG@10: Evolving for a Changing World Tickets, Thu 13 Feb 2025 at 09:00 | Eventbrite.
A programme for the event is now available from the iCRAG website iCRAG.

NUI SEG Student Chapter Workshop on Critical Mineral Deposits
2025-02-17 09:30 - 15:30 | University College Dublin and on Zoom, G01, School of Earth Sciences, UCD, Belfield, Dublin 4, D04 V1W8, Ireland
The National University of Ireland Society of Economic Geologists Student Chapter will be holding a workshop on “Critical Mineral Deposits: Case Studies of volcanogenic and supergene deposits” on Monday 17th February 2025.
The workshop will be held as a hybrid event, in-person at the O’Brien Centre for Science UCD and via Zoom.
There is more detail in the flyer here, including how to register, and there are abstracts for the 2 presentations in this document: abstracts_lectures_CRM_workshop.

Belfast Geologists Society Talk
2025-02-17 19:00 | ZOOM
The Belfast Geologists Society next talk will be on Monday, 17th February at 7pm on Zoom only.
It will be given by Dr. Norman Moles, University of Brighton (formerly Queen’s University Belfast).
The topic is: “New’ geology in the western Mourne Mountains – the Trainor’s Rocks gritstone-conglomerate”.
More information on this and other events can be found on the Belfast Geologists Society website Lectures – Belfast Geologist’ Society
Zoom Details
Time: Feb 17, 2025 07:00 PM Greenwich Mean Time
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86781255114?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 867 8125 5114
Passcode: [REDACTED]

UCD School of Earth Sciences Seminar Series
2025-02-19 13:00 | University College Dublin and on Zoom, G01, School of Earth Sciences, UCD, Belfield, Dublin 4, D04 V1W8, Ireland
Please see flyer here for this term’s Earth Science seminars.
Vincent Roche – UCD & iCRAG
“Structural controls of natural and induced seismicity”
All the Wednesday lunchtime seminars will be given in person at UCD, followed by tea/coffee of notoriously variable quality (high highs, but very low lows), reliably nourishing biscuits, and a chance to connect with and quiz the speaker.
Please do come in if you can make it. For those who can’t, we will also broadcast on Zoom (no recording), with the same link/ID/passcode each week as below.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://ucd-ie.zoom.us/j/62594086210?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 625 9408 6210
Passcode: [REDACTED]
The zoom link is also at the top of the flyer.
Save the flyer for future references as there will be no weekly reminders, unless there is a change to the attached schedule.

Irish Mining and Quarrying Society Lecture: “Health and Minerals”
2025-02-19 17:30 - 18:00 | Knightsbrook Hotel, Trim, Co. Meath – and on ZOOM, Trim, Co Meath, Trim, C15 WYF4, Ireland
Preceding the IMQS AGM, IMQS are hosting a hybrid presentation, at the Knightsbrook Hotel, Trim, Co. Meath and online via Zoom, on Wednesday 19th February between 17:30 and 18:00.
The presentation will be given by Mr Eamonn Francis Grennan – B.Sc.(Hons)(Geology), M.Sc.(Env.Sc.), Dip.Adm.Sc. P.Geo on the topic of:
“Health and Minerals”
Eamonn Grennan is a prolific researcher. His study highlights the inter-relationships between geology and human health. His study will focus on the many and beneficial effects of metals, trace elements and minerals which have been identified as being essential for good health, as well as being essential for diagnostic procedures and for certain treatments. Over the course of a life-time in minerals exploration and mining, he has identified over 30 ‘substances’, mainly metals, trace elements and minerals which are in daily use in and relating to human health.
Zoom Details
Topic: Eamonn Grennan Presentation
Time: Feb 19, 2025 05:30 PM Dublin
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84249937196?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 842 4993 7196
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Irish Mining and Quarrying Society AGM
2025-02-19 18:00 - 18:30 | Knightsbrook Hotel, Trim, Co. Meath, Trim, Co Meath, C15 WYF4, Ireland
Irish Mining and Quarrying Society (IMQS) Annual General Meeting will be held, for members only – as an in-person meeting in the Knightsbrook Hotel, Trim Co. Meath on Wednesday 19th February between 18:00 and 18:30.

UCD School of Earth Sciences Seminar Series
2025-02-26 13:00 | University College Dublin and on Zoom, G01, School of Earth Sciences, UCD, Belfield, Dublin 4, D04 V1W8, Ireland
Please see flyer here for this term’s Earth Science seminars.
Uisdean Nicholson – Heriot Watt University
“Into the Nadir: seismic evidence for a new K-Pg aged impact crater”
All the Wednesday lunchtime seminars will be given in person at UCD, followed by tea/coffee of notoriously variable quality (high highs, but very low lows), reliably nourishing biscuits, and a chance to connect with and quiz the speaker.
Please do come in if you can make it. For those who can’t, we will also broadcast on Zoom (no recording), with the same link/ID/passcode each week as below.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://ucd-ie.zoom.us/j/62594086210?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 625 9408 6210
Passcode: [REDACTED]
The zoom link is also at the top of the flyer.
Save the flyer for future references as there will be no weekly reminders, unless there is a change to the attached schedule.

GSNI Northern Ireland Geothermal Webinar Series
2025-02-27 16:00 - 17:00 | Webinar
The second webinar in the 2025 Northern Ireland Geothermal Webinar Series is taking place this Thursday, 27th February between 16:00 and 17:00.
Emma Bramham and Arka Dyuti Sarkar from the University of Leeds will be giving a talk entitled “Geothermal providing Geosolutions for the University of Leeds campus, the wider Leeds urban environment and across the wider UK”.
They will present current geothermal work by the interdisciplinary Geosolutions Leeds team, including the Geothermal Campus living lab project alongside a wider range of projects exploring potential for geothermal in our urban environments. They will also discuss how the outcomes will work collectively to help bring forward the agenda for geothermal in both Leeds and the wider UK.
Register via the Eventbrite link here Geothermal providing Geosolutions for the University of Leeds campus Tickets, Thu, Feb 27, 2025 at 4:00 PM | Eventbrite

68th Irish Geological Researchers Meeting (IGRM)
2025-02-28 - 2025-03-02 | Trinity College, Dublin, Dublin, D02 KV91, Ireland
The 68th Irish Geological Researchers Meeting (IGRM)– will take place between Friday 28th February and Sunday 2nd March 2025 in Trinity College Dublin. The format will be similar to previous years, with guest speakers and social events on Friday and Saturday evenings and general sessions all Saturday and much of Sunday.
Online forms for registration, dinner and abstracts are now online at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/68th-irish-geological-research-meeting-2025-igrm25-tickets-1114056706599
Details on Presentations and Abstracts are also available at the Eventbrite link.
Please note, Abstracts are due on 14th February.
The IGA will be awarding the best Student Talks in memory of the late Barry Long (GSI) and best Student Posters at the end of the meeting.

UCD School of Earth Sciences Seminar Series
2025-03-05 13:00 | University College Dublin and on Zoom, G01, School of Earth Sciences, UCD, Belfield, Dublin 4, D04 V1W8, Ireland
Please see flyer here for this term’s Earth Science seminars.
James Hickey – University of Exeter
“Volcano deformation: a magma-mush perspective”
All the Wednesday lunchtime seminars will be given in person at UCD, followed by tea/coffee of notoriously variable quality (high highs, but very low lows), reliably nourishing biscuits, and a chance to connect with and quiz the speaker.
Please do come in if you can make it. For those who can’t, we will also broadcast on Zoom (no recording), with the same link/ID/passcode each week as below.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://ucd-ie.zoom.us/j/62594086210?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 625 9408 6210
Passcode: [REDACTED]
The zoom link is also at the top of the flyer.
Save the flyer for future references as there will be no weekly reminders, unless there is a change to the attached schedule.

Belfast Geologists Society – Northern Ireland Geotechnical Group Public Lecture
2025-03-11 18:30 - 20:00 | Queens University Belfast, University Rd, Belfast BT7 1NN,, Belfast, BT7 1NN, United Kingdom
Lecture entitled “From Mud to Rock and Back” will be given by Dr. John Cripps on Tuesday 11th March 2025.
This will be an in-person event with refreshments and networking. Refreshments and Networking will be from 6pm to 6-30pm, to be followed by the Presentation between 6-30pm and 8pm.
This event will be held in the School of the Natural Built Environment, Elmwood Building (Geography), Lecture Theatre OG-029, Queen’s University Belfast.
No registration is necessary – just turn up, everyone is welcome. Dr John Cripps is an Engineering geologist with about 50 years of experience mostly as an academic in the Department of Geology and from 2000 the Department of Civil and Structural Engineering at the University of Sheﬃeld. Now retired, John is still active in research, editing, consultancy and geological conservation work.

CL:AIRE Definitiion of Waste Code of Practice (DoWCoP) training
2025-03-12 | 63 Merrion Square, Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
The DoW CoP provides a clear, consistent and efficient process which enables the reuse of excavated materials on-site or their movement between sites.
Use of the DoW CoP supports the sustainable and cost effective development of land. It can provide an alternative to Environmental Permits or Waste Exemptions.
This training will run in 63 Merrion Square, the day before the IBN Conference. For more details on costs and how to register for the Dublin training on the 12th March, see the CL:AIRE website Definition of Waste Code of Practice

Ireland Brownfield Network Conference
2025-03-13 | 63 Merrion Square, Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
The Ireland Brownfield Network Conference – IBN are hosting their conference in 63 Merrion Square, Dublin on 13th March 2025.
More details are now available for this conference which will have the theme of “Climate, Housing and Biodiversity are all in crisis – Can brownfield development provide the solutions?”.
Join IBN for a day of talks and networking to discuss and learn how brownfield sites can play an important part in resolving the triple crisis facing our climate, housing and biodiversity.
Confirmed speakers include leading industry experts from Department of Environment Climate and Communications, EPA, Normec DETs, QUB, CL:AIRE and more!
Tickets cost €80 per person and places are limited so book your place now at: Ireland Brownfield Network 2025 Conference Tickets, Thu 13 Mar 2025 at 09:00 | Eventbrite

Irish Geoscience Network Meeting on 18th March - 5:30-7pm
2025-03-18

Belfast Geologists Society talk: “Ireland’s Fossil Heritage – bringing Geoscience to the public”
2025-03-18 | University College Cork, College Road, Cork, T12 YN60, Ireland
Talk to be given by Dr Jess Franklin, Senior Engagement Officer, School of Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences, University College Cork.
Tuesday 18th March (time and venue to be confirmed)
The talk is entitled “Ireland’s Fossil Heritage – bringing Geoscience to the public”.
Further information is available on the Belfast Geologists website: https://belfastgeologists.org/index.php/2025/01/10/irelands-fossil-heritage-bringing-geoscience-to-the-public/

Groundwater Flooding in Cork Seminar
2025-03-19 12:00 - 13:00 | University College Cork, College Road, Cork, T12 YN60, Ireland
UCC School of Engineering are hosting a seminar on Groundwater Flooding on the Wednesday 19th of March from 12pm-1pm.
It will be held as a hybrid event. In-person attendees will be at the Sustainable Futures Lab, Iris Ashley Cummins Building, University College Cork while online attendees can join via Teams.
Mohamad Soboh, researcher at UCC, and Anthony Beese, senior consulting geologist, will discuss groundwater flood risks in the city.
The event will document the history of groundwater issues and some recent flood modelling being undertaken as part of a GSI-funded project.
If you’re interested in this free event, please register at this link: Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams
