Bangkok--13 Mar--PR One
The Geological Society of Thailand (GST) and well-known geologists from 10 Southeast Asian nations are joining hands to host GEOSEA 2012, The 12th Regional Congress on Geology, Mineral and Energy Resources of Southeast Asia.
To be held 7-8 March in Ballroom C of the Centara Grand Hotel at Central Plaza, Lat Phrao, Bangkok , this congress is themed “Geoscience in Response to the Changing Earth’’. It aims to increase public understanding of scientific principles and natural disasters, increase preparedness to handles rumors regarding such disasters, prepare the public to cope with rumors of disasters, increase the public’s awareness of both disaster prevention and reduction, and finally, increase public appreciation of the role played by Thai geologists.
Dr. Songpope Polachan, President of the Geological Society of Thailand said that, at present, much scientific information is currently available about drastic global changes, especially global warming, which is causing a dramatic set of changes to the earth climate, or even changes in long-term weather patterns and variations from place to place. As well, the melting of the North Pole glacier and heavy snows this year are two natural phenomena occurring that have never taken place before. These climate changes have also resulted in heavy flooding, tsunami, volcanoe, earthquake and landslide for the past several years that have posed threats to people’s well- being and safety.
Apart from the climate change triggering, Dr. Songpope also revealed the sharp increase of global population has now caused much greater use of the planet’s geological resources, such as the expanded use of minerals, coal, petrol, underground water and natural gas. Thus, the cooperation of all kinds of specialized scientists, especially geologists, is more urgently needed, for they will need to take opportunity to share their ideas and experience concerning geological issues that are necessary to help solve all these interrelated problems.
The GST this year will serve as the host to organise “the 12th Regional Congress on Geology, Mineral and Energy Resources of Southeast Asia” or GEOSEA 2012 in Bangkok, Thailand. The congress, held every three years with each country taking turns to be the host, brings together all scientists from 10 Asean countries to discuss geological issues. Past congresses focused on a variety of geological topics, including the use of geological knowledge for the exploration of new mineral and energy resources as well as other natural resources.
The congress has now expanded into other areas of interest to cover global warming, the result of modern geological change. Geologists at this congress will discuss in much more detail geology and geological resources and environmental geology and geological hazards. The core topic of this conference, however, targets the creation of increased awareness of natural disasters in Southeast Asia and the presentation of geological information on climate change, natural disasters and sustainability of natural resources in the present and future.
An exhibition on natural disasters across the world will be on display at the congress and the GST will use this forum to combine cooperation from its counterparts to work closely with the Asean Economic Cooperation (AEC) that is going to take place in 2015. More importantly, the congress will also discuss the scientific possibility of the end of the world this year, as is predicted by some Mayan prophecies.
Mr. Chote Trachu, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, another experienced and well-known geologist, has said that geology is the study of the earth and current natural phenomena, which both can reveal past incidents and forecast future events. Used analytically as scientific proof, advanced geological and its technological information, can be considered useful and worthy of study because such evidence supports future prophecy as ‘The present is the key to the future’
GEOSEA 2012 marks a significantly important meeting of geologists across the region as it functions as a forum for geologists to share their knowledge and current work activities on geology, natural disasters and natural resources development currently underway in their own countries. This meeting also boosts cooperation among everyone regarding sending mutual warnings for natural disasters, providing prevention and assistance support for these calamities, and sharing a communal spirit for regional sustainability and prosperity.