From the life of the institute

On 12 May 2026, the ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the Institute of Geological Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences was held in the halls of the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences in Kraków. The event brought together numerous representatives of the world of science, public institutions, universities, units of the Polish Academy of Sciences, scientific societies, and partners who have cooperated with the Institute for many years.

The anniversary was an opportunity to summarize seven decades of activity of the Institute of Geological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences, to recall its most important research achievements, and to honor people who have made a particularly significant contribution to the development of the Institute and geological sciences.

The ceremony was opened by the Director of the Institute, Prof. Stanisław Mazur, PhD, DSc, who welcomed the gathered guests and emphasized the importance of the Institute as a major center for research into the history of the Earth, its structure, geological processes, and resources. The event was attended by distinguished guests representing national and international scientific communities, academic institutions, public administration, and organizations connected with Earth sciences.

The presence of such a broad group of participants was an expression of recognition for the Institute’s achievements and its role in Polish and international geology. An important item on the program was the ceremonial presentation of decorations and awards. The anniversary thus became not only an opportunity to celebrate the history of the Institute, but also to express gratitude to those who, through their scientific, organizational, and administrative work, have contributed to its development over the years.

The scientific part of the ceremony was enriched by a lecture delivered by Prof. Carsten Münker from the University of Cologne, a world-renowned researcher in the field of isotope geochemistry. In his lecture entitled From the early solar system to Earth’s interior: new clues from new isotope tools, Prof. Münker presented the latest possibilities for using isotope tools in research on the early history of the Solar System and the Earth’s interior.

A special place in the program was also given to a lecture by Prof. Jan Środoń entitled A Short History of the Institute of Geological Sciences, PAS, which recalled the beginnings of the Institute, its ties with the Kraków scientific community, and the contribution of successive generations of researchers to the development of Polish geological sciences. Prof. Środoń’s lecture was a symbolic return to the roots and an important element of the anniversary reflection on the Institute’s identity.

The ceremony was accompanied by a musical setting performed by Dr Małgorzata Podstawka-Skała.

The meeting concluded with a joint lunch, which provided an opportunity for conversations, memories, and thanks to the people and institutions supporting the activities of the Institute of Geological Sciences, PAS.

The Institute of Geological Sciences, PAS, extends its heartfelt thanks to all Guests who honored us with their presence and celebrated with us the 70th anniversary of the Institute’s activity. We are especially grateful to representatives of scientific, academic, and public institutions, partners cooperating with the Institute, representatives of scientific societies, and all those who have supported the development of Polish geological sciences for many years.

We express our gratitude to the Institute’s employees, retired employees, doctoral students, and collaborators. It is your commitment, scientific, organizational, administrative, and technical work that has shaped the history of the Institute of Geological Sciences, PAS, over seven decades and allows us to look to the future with hope.

We offer sincere congratulations to all those decorated and honored during the ceremony. The decorations and awards granted are an expression of recognition for your achievements, many years of work, dedication to the Institute, and contribution to the development of geological sciences.

We thank everyone who contributed to the preparation and smooth running of the anniversary celebration — those involved in the organization, the event partners, and supporting institutions. Thanks to your kindness and assistance, the ceremony could take place in an atmosphere that was solemn, cordial, and worthy of the anniversary.

The 70th anniversary of the Institute of Geological Sciences, PAS, was for our community not only an occasion for memories and summaries, but also a celebration of the community of people connected with the Institute and Earth sciences.

We sincerely thank you all for your presence, congratulations, kindness, and for celebrating this exceptional day with us.

Congratulatory addresses:

Since the launch of the NAWA PROM project (2025–2026), the Institute of Geological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences (IGS PAS) has been actively implementing a wide range of international activities combining scientific mobility, training, workshops, and field-based research.

Types of Activities
The programme includes:

•  international conferences – presentation of research results and participation in global scientific events (e.g. International Sedimentological Congress, New Zealand),
•  research visits, internships and scientific exchanges – carried out by researchers, PhD candidates, students, and incoming participants,
•  workshops and training courses – both participation in international courses and organization of specialized workshops at IGS PAS,
•  field-based research – geological fieldwork and applied studies in diverse environments
•  incoming mobilities – hosting international students and researchers in IGS PAS laboratories.

Geographical Scope
Activities carried out so far demonstrate the global reach of the programme: Asia – Philippines, China, India; Europe – Germany,
Sweden, France, Romania; Oceania – New Zealand
These mobilities contribute to building strong and lasting international research collaborations.

Workshops Organized at IGS PAS
IGS PAS is also actively organizing international training activities, including:

•  Seismic Stratigraphic and Tectonic Interpretations of Seismic Data (March 2026),
•  Phase Equilibria Modelling of Metamorphic Rocks (Perple_X) (March 2026),

with additional workshops planned in the coming months.

Impact
The activities carried out so far have contributed to:

•  strengthening international scientific collaboration,
•  increasing the number and diversity of international mobilities,
•  enhancing research competences of participants,
•  integrating field, laboratory, and modelling approaches in geosciences,
•  increasing the international visibility of IGS PAS.

Detailed reports from mobilities are available here:  https://www.ing.pan.pl/nawa-prom/relacje-z-mobilnosci

PROM – krótkookresowa wymiana akademicka – nabór 2025;
Projekt finansowany przez Narodową Agencję Wymiany Akademickiej ze środków programu
Fundusze Europejskie dla Rozwoju Społecznego 2021–2027 (FERS);
wysokość dofinansowania: 995 250 PLN; www.mapadotacji.gov.pl

We are pleased to announce that a professor of our Institute, Assoc. Prof. Piotr Krzywiec, together with Prof. Xiumian Hu from Nanjing, has assumed for another five-year term (2026–2030) the leadership of the International Lithosphere Program Task Force 6 “Sedimentary Basins”. The International Lithosphere Program (http://ilp.nju.edu.cn) was established in 1980 by the International Council of Scientific Unions (currently the International Science Council, https://council.science/) under UNESCO, following the recommendation of two organizations active in the Earth sciences: the International Union of Geological Sciences (https://www.iugs.org/) and the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (https://iugg.org/). Researchers involved in broadly defined studies of sedimentary basins and interested in collaboration within this Task Force are invited to make contact (piotr.krzywiec@twarda.pan.pl).

Presentation on the International Lithosphere Program Task Force 6 “Sedimentary Basins” during the International Sedimentological Congress in Wellington, New Zealand (25–30 January 2026).

We are pleased to announce that PE Limited has kindy extended the donation of 10 academic licenses of the MOVE v. 2024.1 software for another year.
The donation equivalent is 1 928 384.01GBP.
The software will be used in PhD research projects and statutory tasks at the Institute of Geological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences.

PE Limited (Petex) was based in 1990 in Edinburgh (UK). The company possesses broad expertise  in engineering software development, as well as in the field of petroleum engineering. The MOVE suite provides a platform for integrating and interpreting data, cross-section construction, 3D model building, kinematic restoration and validation, geomechanical modelling, fracture modelling, fault response modelling, fault and stress analysis, and sediment modelling. For more information see PE Limited website: https://www.petex.com/products/move-suite/

We are pleased to announce that Prof. Stanisław Mazur, Director of the Institute of Geological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences, has been elected an Ordinary Member of the Polish Academy of Sciences.
This distinction recognizes his outstanding achievements in the field of Earth sciences.
We extend our warmest congratulations!

>> Report from the nomination ceremony<<