International Geological Congress: Opening speech
Ministers,
delegates
and participants
It is a great pleasure to welcome you to Norway and to the 33rd International Geological Congress. The IGC has a long tradition with meetings every four year, similar to the Olympic Games, which also is just about to start.
I saw in the program that scientific results from a wide specter of disciplines in earth science are on your agenda. Earth science and natural resources have always been important for Norway. Minerals and fisheries through many centuries, and now oil and gas. Knowledge of earth science is increasingly needed in the study of climate change and to protect us from natural hazards.
Earth science and geology have long traditions in Norway going back to 1757 and the establishment of the Mining Academy in Kongsberg. Geology and mining became an important part when the University of Oslo was founded and today geology has a strong position in the Norwegian science community.
The 33IGC is the largest scientific congress organized in Norway and I am certain that the congress with nearly 6000 participants, 350 scientific symposia and 37 excursions will be of great benefit and inspiration to the Nordic geological community
I hope the congress will stimulate scientific debate, increase the network between scientists and stimulate further research.
I hereby declare The 33rd International Geological Congress officially opened.