After an eight-year break, the Polish Geological Congress returned to the calendar of important events. Its fourth edition took place from 10-14.06.2024 in Poznań.

The organisers of the Congress were: Polish Geological Society (PTGeol) - Poznań Branch, Adam Mickiewicz University. Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań (Institute of Geology) and PGI-NRI, which made a very significant substantive and organisational contribution.

During the opening ceremony , persons distinguished by significant scientific and professional achievements in the field of geology were presented with the badges of honour "Merit for Polish Geology", which were awarded by the Minister for Climate and Environment, Paulina Hennig-Kloska, at the request of the President of the Polish Geological Society. The decorations were awarded to 11 people - employees of the Adam Mickiewicz University, the University of Wrocław and Orlen S.A.

The decoration with the badge of honour "Merit for Polish Geology" was carried out by Minister Krzysztof Galos, Chief National Geologist

Dr Rafał Sikora from PGI-NRI was awarded the PTGeol medal "Bene Merito Societati Geologorum Poloniae". The medal was presented by prof. Andrzej Żelaźniewicz - President of the Chaptery

The overarching aim of the Congress was to review current research topics and integrate the community of Polish geologists. The results of the latest research important for Polish geology and the economy were presented and discussed. A total of 171 papers were delivered and 120 posters were presented. Almost 40% of these were speeches by PGI-NRI staff.

During the Congress, there were 15 thematically diverse paper sessions and three plenary sessions. Abstracts of all papers and posters are available at https://4pkg.amu.edu.pl/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IVPKG_streszczenia.pdf

The congress was attended by 378 people, including 145 PTGeol members and 50 students and PhD students. 150 people represented 18 universities, 116 research institutes and 80 participants represented 28 geology-related companies and businesses. In addition, more than a dozen participants from seven government and local government institutions and five institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences attended the Congress. A significant group of participants were geologists of various specialities from PGI-NRI - in total the Institute was represented by almost 120 people.

Congress participants during the plenary session

The congress was inaugurated by an address of prof. Krzysztof Galos, Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of the Environment, Chief National Geologist, in which the main directions of the Ministry's activities in the field of raw materials and energy policy of Poland were presented

The first plenary session was chaired by prof. Krzysztof Szamałek, Director of PGI-NRI. It dealt with new technologies based on geological data to support the energy transition

Subsequent plenary sessions covered the geohazards accompanying underground and open-cast mining and the broader issue of the future of Polish geology.

During the plenary session on geohazards, dr Tomasz Wojciechowski (head of the Geohazards Centre at PGI-NRI) presented the results of an inventory of modern sinkholes in the Trzebinia area, where 530 sinkholes have been documented

On the third day of the Congress, the biggest challenges facing geology in Poland in the coming decade were discussed.

Participants in the panel entitled The future of Polish geology were (from the left): mgr inż. Weronika Mikołajewska (Orlen S.A.), dr hab. Jacek Szczygieł (UŚ), prof. dr hab. Anna Wysocka (Institute of Geological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences), prof. dr hab. Krzysztof Szamałek (PGI-NRI), prof. dr hab. inż. Jacek Matyszkiewicz (AGH), and the discussion was chaired by prof. dr hab. Witold Szczuciński (UAM). Maciej Nowakowski (Orlen S.A.) also spoke on the panel

PGI-NRI, as the main depository of geological information in the country, relied on the presentation of numerous geological databases and the resources of the National Geological Archives. It organised a highly successful workshop to present the applications of Poland's largest collection of digital geological data, the Central Geological Database (CBDG). Standard and most commonly used applications are discussed: CBDG Documents and the latest version of the CBDG Borehole application, as well as tools related to spatial data sharing.

A workshop on the practical use of CBDG applications was led by: Wojciech Paciura - on the photo (head of the Department of Field Systems Maintenance and Development) and his deputy Dominik Stańczuk

PGI-NRI exhibition stand

An important element of PGI-NRI's participation in the Congress was the Institute's exhibition stand, which - not least because of its location - was the real heart of the Congress. Congress participants had the opportunity to broaden their knowledge of the issues presented during the thematic sessions. It demonstrated resources and access to geological databases, as well as the results of a completed task of the Polish Geological Survey - a 3D framework model of the geological structure of Poland.

Dr Zbigniew Małolepszy and Dominik Szrek presented the resources of the Geo3D web browser. The 3D model of Poland's geological structure, based on data covering 22,500 km of 2D seismic profiles and more than 700 reinterpreted deep boreholes, as highlighted by its contractors, is a very significant step forward in 3D geological cartography in Poland

The congress was accompanied by numerous field trips in Wielkopolska and Dolny Śląsk. (Descriptions of all field trips are available at: https://4pkg.amu.edu.pl/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IVPKG_wycieczki.pdf). One of these was co-organised by PGI-NRI, which invited participants to the Geological Sample Archive site in Leszcze near Kłodawa. During the tour, the PGI-NRI's activities in the areas of: collecting, preserving and making available geological samples, groundwater monitoring and low-temperature geothermics were presented. (tour description: https://4pkg.amu.edu.pl/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IVPKG_wycieczki.pdf)

Tour participants in front of the manor house on the grounds of the Geological Sample Archive in Leszcze

Hydrogeological conditions in the Kłodawa area were presented by Jacek Otwinowski (Department of Groundwater Monitoring). The presentation took place at hydrogeological station I/999 Leszcze, where groundwater in Quaternary, Miocene and Upper Jurassic formations is monitored. Photo: Renata Hutkowska

According to the Polish Geological Society, the event met expectations, which was confirmed by positive feedback from participants. They emphasised the exceptionally pleasant, friendly atmosphere and the high level of content of the speeches and debates.

Chairman of the Board of the Polish Geological Society prof. Tadeusz Peryt addressed a vote of thanks to the Director of PGI-NRI, prof. Krzysztof Szamałek, emphasising above all the high level of substantive commitment of the PGI-NRI staff.

Texst Anna Bagińska, Artur Baranowski
Photos. Michał Zieliński, Paweł Jaskóła