ANNUAL REVIEW 2021
An overview of activities by the Institute of Geologists of Ireland (IGI)
by Cian O’Hora PGeo, President IGI The Institute of Geologists of Ireland (IGI) was established in 1999 with the mission of promoting and advancing the science of geology and its professional application in all disciplines, especially the geosciences and to facilitate the exchange of information and ideas in relation thereto. IGI Members are required to uphold, develop and maintain the highest professional standards in the practise of their profession. To this end all members must undertake CPD recording for approval on an annual basis. Professional membership of the IGI is open to all practising geoscientists who meet the required standards of qualification and experience. For information on how to apply, please visit www.igi.ie. The mining and quarrying sectors have always been very well represented within our membership, with approximately 35% of our members specifying ‘Mining Geology and Exploration’ as their main area of expertise at application stage.
IGI ACTIVITIES 2020 - 2021 The Covid-19 pandemic has undoubtably been a defining feature in all our lives over the last 18 months. IGI made the switch to online operations and have endeavoured to maintain the services we provide our members. Whilst we feel we have done this successfully, and that online participation has in fact opened up
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our events to a bigger audience, we look forward to a time when we can once again gather together with our colleagues. IGI membership grew significantly this past year; twenty-six candidates were approved for Professional Membership; fourteen for Membership-in-Training and nine new Student Members. This brings our total membership to 333. In March 2021 a significant body of work from the Minerals Information Working Group (MIWG) was published in IGI’s first major public engagement campaign. IGI was delighted that IMQS was represented on the MIWG by their President Nicola Nixon. Five science-led factsheets on
minerals and mining in Ireland were published on 8th March. The programme of dissemination has resulted in wide-ranging interest in the materials, including coverage in the Irish Times, an interview on the Newstalk radio Pat Kenny show, engagement from public officials and representatives and messages of support from national and international geoscience organisations. The factsheets had five themes: mining and our green future, the lifetime value of a mine, mining through the ages, mine planning and environmental regulation and mineral exploration in Ireland. The graphics below give a brief snapshot
