International Association of Geochemistry

International Association of Geochemistry
Name	International Association of Geochemistry
Abbreviation	IAG
Formation	1967
Type	International scientific organization
Headquarters	United Kingdom
Region served	Worldwide
Membership	National and individual members
Leader title	President

Contents

International Association of Geochemistry The International Association of Geochemistry is a global scientific organization dedicated to advancing geochemistry through research, collaboration, and dissemination. Founded in the late 20th century, it connects scientists from institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Cambridge, and University of Tokyo and interacts with bodies like the International Union of Geological Sciences, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, European Commission, and National Science Foundation. The association collaborates with societies including the Geochemical Society, European Association of Geochemistry, American Geophysical Union, and International Mineralogical Association.

History

The association was established during a period of institutional growth marked by meetings at venues such as the Royal Society, Académie des Sciences (France), Smithsonian Institution Building, and conferences in cities like Paris, London, New York City, Tokyo, and Sydney. Early governance drew on models from organizations such as the American Chemical Society, Royal Society of Chemistry, Geological Society of London, and International Council for Science. Founding figures had affiliations with universities including University of Oxford, Harvard University, California Institute of Technology, and agencies like the US Geological Survey and British Geological Survey. Over decades the association engaged in initiatives paralleling programs by the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme, Global Environment Facility, and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

The association's mission emphasizes promoting research networks among laboratories at institutions such as ETH Zurich, Peking University, University of California, Berkeley, and Monash University; facilitating data exchange between projects like the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program, Ocean Drilling Program, and Integrated Ocean Drilling Program; and supporting early-career researchers from academies such as the National Academy of Sciences and Royal Society. Objectives include fostering methods used in studies associated with the International Atomic Energy Agency, Joint Research Centre, and techniques developed at centers like the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory.

The association is governed by an elected council comprising representatives from national committees similar to those of the International Union of Geological Sciences and national academies such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Russian Academy of Sciences, and Indian National Science Academy. Executive roles mirror structures found in the European Research Council, National Institutes of Health, and World Meteorological Organization, with committees for finance, outreach, ethics, and program oversight. Affiliated working groups collaborate with task forces from organizations like the International Oceanographic Commission, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, United Nations Environment Programme, and regional bodies including the African Union research networks.

The association sponsors and coordinates programs on isotope geochemistry, trace element biogeochemistry, and environmental geochemistry, interfacing with projects like the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program, International Ocean Discovery Program, Global Seismograph Network, and monitoring efforts by the Group on Earth Observations. Initiatives address topics explored by researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, and CSIRO and align with agendas from the Convention on Biological Diversity, Kyoto Protocol, and Paris Agreement through collaborations with policy-oriented bodies such as the World Bank and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The association produces newsletters and supports peer-reviewed publications comparable to journals like Chemical Geology, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, and Journal of Geophysical Research. It endorses special volumes in collaboration with publishers such as Elsevier, Springer Nature, Wiley-Blackwell, and Cambridge University Press, and contributes to monographs used in courses at Stanford University, Imperial College London, and Columbia University.

Regular symposia and workshops occur alongside major gatherings like the International Geological Congress, meetings of the American Geophysical Union, European Geosciences Union, and regional conferences in cities including Barcelona, San Francisco, Beijing, Cape Town, and Rio de Janeiro. The association organizes specialized meetings with partners such as the International Association for the Physical Sciences of the Ocean, Society of Economic Geologists, Mineralogical Society of America, and regional academies like the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic.

The association confers awards and medals recognizing excellence, echoing honors given by institutions such as the Royal Society, National Academy of Sciences, Geochemical Society's V.M. Goldschmidt Medal, American Geophysical Union's Bert Bolin Award, and prizes associated with the European Research Council and national science foundations. Recipients often have affiliations with Princeton University, University of California, Los Angeles, Seoul National University, University of Melbourne, and research institutes including the Center for Isotope Research.

Category:Scientific societies