The International Geographical Union (IGU) Executive Committee Meeting 2024 was held from April 9 to April 12 at NJU. The meeting was chaired by Michael Meadows, IGU President and Professor from the School of Geography and Ocean Science at NJU, and attended by all members of the IGU Executive Committee, leaders from the Geographical Society of China (GSC), and faculty and students from the School of Geography and Ocean Science.
On April 9, key figures such as Professor Fu Bojie, IGU Vice President and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Nathalie Lemarchand, IGU First Vice President and Professor from Université Paris 8, and Yukio Himiyama, former IGU President and Professor from Hokkaido University of Education, along with other committee members and renowned geographers from the United States, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Türkiye, India, Uganda, and Australia, arrived in Nanjing. Professor Tan Tieniu, Secretary of the CPC NJU Committee and Academician of the CAS, warmly received and welcomed the participating experts and wished them a successful meeting.
Tan and experts from the IGU Executive Committee
On the morning of April 10, the meeting was held at the School of Geography and Ocean Science at NJU. Professor Lu Yanqing, Vice President of NJU, and Professor Lu Huayu, Vice Chairman of the GSC and Dean of the School of Geography and Ocean Science, delivered welcome speeches. President Michael Meadows thanked NJU for its support and assistance in organizing the meeting. The meeting reviewed the annual work report of 2023, discussed the preparation for the upcoming International Geographical Congress in Dublin in August, and devised plans for the Commissions’ activities to better advance the work of the IGU and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Professor Michael Meadows presided over the meeting
Vice President Lu Yanqing and Dean Lu Huayu attended the meeting
On the afternoon of April 11, an academic exchange session was held between the IGU Executive Committee members and faculty and students of the School of Geography and Ocean Science. The session featured guidance from Researcher Chen Fahu, Chairman of the GSC and Academician of the CAS. Professor Lu Huayu introduced the history, educational system, research platforms, and academic achievements of the School, highlighting recent work by faculty and students in geographic education, scientific research, and social service. Important research outcomes were discussed in areas such as global marine environmental remote sensing, the formation and evolution of the Loess Plateau, the variability of Asian monsoon climate, polar and coastal zones, water and soil resources in the Yangtze River basin, desertification control, and tourism and population health geography. Many results were published in top journals including Science, Science Advances, Nature Communications, PNAS, SCIENCE CHINA, and Acta Geographica Sinica.
Following the presentations, Professor Nathalie Lemarchand and Professor Celine Rozenblat delivered insightful academic reports with vibrant discussions on cutting-edge geographic issues among the attendees. Professor Celine Rozenblat stated that large Chinese cities can rely on scientific and rational planning and design to utilize resources efficiently, thus resolving the conflicts between population, resources, and the environment.
Professor Fu Bojie noted that the development of city clusters and smart city networks in China is an important path to sustainable development, and that geographers must pay attention to the global impacts of regional resources and environmental issues caused by production and trade activities.
Regarding Professor Barbaros G?nen?gil’s concern about distinguishing between natural variability and human impact on climate change, Researcher Chen Fahu emphasized that paleoclimate research can help understand the natural variations in climate change, representing one way to address this issue.
Associate Professor Zhang Peng suggested that climate numerical models can be used to test whether human activities have impacted the behavior of the Earth's climate system, introducing examples in Dendroclimatology to explain how numerical simulation is applied in climate change research.
Professor Xiao Pengfeng, combining the research outcomes from the School of Geography and Ocean Science, introduced the application of new technologies and methods such as artificial intelligence and machine learning in geography.
Picture of the academic exchange session
Professor Fu Bojie delivered a speech
Professor Chen Fahu delivered a speech
On April 12, the IGU Executive Committee members visited the Tangshan area in Nanjing, exploring the Tangshan-Fangshan National Geopark Museum and Hulu Cave hominid fossil site to gain deeper insights into regional climate change, environmental transformations, and the evolutionary history of ancient humans.
IGU Executive Committee visited Tangshan
During the meeting, members were also invited to visit Nanjing Normal University for academic exchanges. Professor Philip McManus and Professor Maria Paradiso discussed changes in the travel behavior of Chinese tourists in Australia and the impact of Mediterranean shipping on marine biodiversity.
The meeting received strong support from the GSC.
The International Geographical Union (IGU) established in 1922 in Brussels, Belgium, is an academic organization formed by geographical societies worldwide. Its mission is to promote the development of geography through its Executive Committee, National Committees, Commissions, and Task Forces. The IGU hosts the International Geographical Congress (IGC) every four years and regularly promotes regional and other meetings to strive for its objectives.
Writer: Meng Ziqi
Editor: Jin Yue, Shao Yihang
