Geological aid to developing countries

Abstract

Report of the inaugural meeting of the UK section of the Association of Geoscientists for International Development (AGID-UK), now affiliated to the Geological Society, held in Burlington House, 15 February 1988. AGID is a unique international association of geoscientists with some 90% of its 2500 membership drawn from over 100 Third World countries. After nearly 15 years in existence, it is still the only organization devoted to the application of science to the problems of developing countries. It works in co-operation with local, national and international groups on programmes related to the development of natural resources, environmental planning and geoscience education. Perhaps its most important function is the informal grassroots contact and worldwide collaboration between individual geoscientists who share many of the same problems and the determination to solve them. The theme of the meeting was to explore the role that UK geologists could play towards these ends. Four speakers were invited to address aspects of ‘geological aid’ from personal experience. Global geoscience. Anthon R. Berger (Ottawa, editor of Episodes) began by suggesting that ‘geological aid’ was a somewhat outmoded concept. However since geosciences are global in outlook, it is imperative that a proper understanding is developed of the natural forces that lead to global changes and of their interaction with society. It is also imperative to communicate effectively both the results of such research and any consequent warnings to planners, politicians and policymakers. None of this can be done without the full participation of Third World Scientists in the