The 2024 International Geodiversity Day (IGD) Symposium, hosted by the Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, took place virtually on October 6, 2024, uniting over 30 experts and scholars from 13 countries, including China, Italy, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Africa, and more. This year’s symposium, themed “Conserving the Past, Sustaining the Future,” was moderated by WANG Pei, Associate Professor at IHB.

The event commenced with an overview by former International Geographical Union (IGU) President, Prof. Yukio Himiyama of Hokkaido University of Education, who outlined this year’s activities. Discussions centered on three key themes, each led by a distinguished coordinator: “Geodiversity Showcase” by Prof. Suraj Mal, chair of the IGU Biogeography and Biodiversity Commission from Jawaharlal Nehru University; “Geodiversity Sustains Biodiversity” by WANG Pei; and “Geodiversity – Understanding Contexts for Policies” by Maria Paradiso, IGU vice president and professor at the University of Naples Federico II.

Eight experts delivered oral presentations, followed by a roundtable discussion with five prominent scholars: Michael Meadows from Nanjing University, Suraj Mal, WANG Pei, Maria Paradiso, and Yukio Himiyama. They reached consensus on two significant initiatives: (1) Public Engagement: The symposium’s recordings will be made available online to foster global awareness; (2) Knowledge Dissemination: A special volume titled Geodiversity from Geographical Perspectives will be published by Springer, with each roundtable participant serving as editor for designated topics.

Since its designation by UNESCO’s 41st General Conference in 2021, October 6 has been celebrated as International Geodiversity Day, endorsed by 193 member countries and supported by 108 international scientific organizations, including the IGU, The Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, and the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS). To advance UNESCO’s goals for IGD, the IGU established a Geodiversity Group in 2022, hosting annual symposia to highlight the importance of geodiversity for human and environmental well-being.

In line with SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 15 (Life on Land), WANG Pei's proposal, “Geodiversity Sustains Biodiversity,” has become one of IGD’s three major themes, showcasing global research developments each year.

The 2024 International Geodiversity Day (IGD) Symposium, hosted by IHB, took place virtually. (Credit: IHB)

Online roundtable discussion (Credit: IHB)