Fourth Triennial Congress of Federation of Indian Geosciences Association 2025 - The Prelude
Over the years the earth system science has become a truly interdisciplinary field of science with an increasing realization for a common platform and to exchange and interlace the views and activities of the earth sciences communities. This is expected to bring in synergy across the earth science community and the scientific programs of national and international relevance jointly taken up by the scientific associations. It is time that the contemporary technologies that can address the challenges associated with geosciences be comprehended to provide effective solutions for the welfare and sustained growth of the nation. In this context, as an effective approach to bring in all the associations dealing with various facets of geosciences together and put in concerted efforts in suggesting future activities at national and international levels, Fourth Triennial Congress of Federation of Indian Geosciences Association 2025 (FIGA) has come into being with nine Geosciences Associations as Members and four institutions/ Ministries as patron members in 2014. This endeavour is aimed to bring in the Geosciences Associations/Societies/ Unions and Institutions on to a single platform to address a common goal fostering the developments in Geosciences and benefitting the Society and suggesting future activities at national and international levels. The preceding three Triennial Congresses of FIGA jointly participated by its Member Associations IGU, GSI, AHI, AEG , SPG , PSI, ISES, OSI and Patron Members- NCESS , CSIR-NGRI , IIG, MoES, AMD , KDMIPE, WIHG , INCOIS, NCPOR were held at IIT-Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, CSIR -National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad and Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun. during 2016, 2019 and 2022 respectively. The 4th Triennial Congress of FIGA will be held in ESSO-Indian National Coastal Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Hyderabad during 2025.
The host institution and the organizer- ESSO-Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (ESSO-INCOIS)
ESSO-Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (ESSO-INCOIS) was established as an autonomous body in 1999 under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and is a unit of the Earth System Science Organisation (ESSO). ESSO-INCOIS is mandated to provide the best possible ocean information and advisory services to society, industry, government agencies and the scientific community through sustained ocean observations and constant improvements through systematic and focused research. The institute's activity spectrum encompasses Potential Fishing Zone and Experimental Ocean State Forecast on mission mode, Marine Meteorological Advisory Services and Web-based Ocean Information Services. It contributes to Storm Surge Prediction and Disaster Management, Climate I Monsoon I Weather Forecast, Monitoring of Pollution I Oil Spill and Global Ocean Observing System. INCOIS also established Infrastructure for Ocean Information and Modelling, Regional Argo Data Centre, National Argo Data Centre, Ocean Portal. Major HP computing facilities with petaflop storage facility are in place for national use. In addition, its contributions to Human Resource Development for Ocean Sciences and Services is globally recognized.
The congress
Oceans occupy almost 70% of the Earth's surface and countries like India are largely bounded by coastal oceans with long coast lines. The highly diverse eco-systems, natural resources- living and non-living, energy, contributions to monsoons and climate, conveyer for excess heat and sink of C02, natural hazards contribute significantly to water, food and energy needs of the humanity apart from their direct contribute ion to national economy. A sustainable ocean economy emerges when economic activity is in equilibrium with the marine and coastal eco-systems, resources and process dynamics in terms of their resilience and health and human wellbeing over long periods. The ocean dependent economy continues to prosper in the era of climate change in the concept of 'Blue economy'.
Despite the wisdom, foresight and use of ocean environment by the humanity, the oceans remain as 'less understood' entities in science and society. The origin, linkages and dependence and co-existence of oceans and the terrestrial system needs a comprehensive understanding to adopt and promote blue economy and its associated framework.