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UFS Department of Geology co-host of GeoCongress 2025

25 March 2025 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Supplied

The Department of Geology at the UFS is co-hosting this year’s GeoCongress 2025 with the Geological Society of South Africa. Pictured is Dr Martin Clark, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Geology and convener of the congress.

The Department of Geology in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the University of the Free State (UFS) and the Geological Society of South Africa will co-host GeoCongress 2025, set to take place from 23 to 27 June 2025 on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus. This prestigious biennial academic event, themed: Embracing change through collaboration, will bring together leading academics, students, and industry experts from across South Africa to explore the latest advancements in geosciences.

The congress reflects the university's commitment to academic excellence, quality, and impact – core tenets of its UFS Vision 130. As a research-led, student-centred, and regionally engaged university, the UFS continues to transform itself to stay relevant within the dynamic and ever-changing international higher education sphere.

Prof Vasu Reddy, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Internationalisation, says “The university is proud to co-host this major gathering of established and emerging earth scientists from a variety of disciplines, who will present relevant, timely research topics to a wider audience. The theme underscores the centrality of geosciences to our aspirations as a university for the country and continent, directing us towards a collective sustainable future. We are excited by the ideas to be featured at this conference. More importantly, we are inspired by the prospect of further promoting real interaction and innovation between academia, industry, and society for impactful change.”

A platform for scientific excellence

It is fitting for the UFS to co-host this event, as geologists in the Department of Geology as well as in the province have made significant contributions across multiple fields, including economic geology, palaeontology, and geomorphology.

In the Department of Geology, for instance, researchers are exploring a wide range of topics, including magmatic processes in the platinum-group-bearing Bushveld Igneous Complex, AI-driven prospectivity modelling of global deposits, meteorite impact-related processes in the Vredefort impact structure, and geological and structural studies in the Namaqualand region.

In the Free State, known for its rich mineral resources, including gold, diamonds, and coal, geologists have played a big role in exploring and developing these resources, particularly in the Free State Goldfields, one of South Africa’s leading gold-producing areas. The province also boasts significant coal deposits, important for power generation. In palaeontology, geologists have helped uncover valuable fossil sites, including the Florisbad hominid site, offering insights into the history of life on earth. Additionally, their research in geomorphology, especially around the Florisbad area, has shed light on unique landscapes and depositional environments, including lunette dunes.

In agriculture, geologists have worked closely with farmers to ensure sustainable land use, providing important information on soil composition and erosion prevention. They have also played a key role in the study of groundwater resources, helping to identify and assess borehole sites for irrigation and domestic water supply, which is key to farming in the region. The Institute for Groundwater Studies (IGS) at the UFS is the only institute in South Africa dedicated to geohydrology. Founded in 1974 by Prof FDI Hodgson, the IGS is the oldest institute at the university and has produced more than 1 000 postgraduate students. The institute conducts research on a wide variety of water-related topics. Of special interest is its contribution to the mining and industrial sectors in terms of water management, minimisation of pollution, as well as understanding the nature and behaviour of South Africa's aquifers. The IGS provides a complete service to these industries through field investigations, the development of specialised field equipment, an accredited laboratory, and computer models for aquifer management.

Building on these contributions in the field, GeoCongress 2025 marks an important event on South Africa’s geoscience calendar, showcasing the latest scientific advancements, innovative research, and practical applications shaping the industry. With engaging academic sessions, dynamic workshops, and practical field excursions, the conference offers attendees the opportunity to participate in meaningful discussions, attend insightful presentations, and take part in excursions that bring theory to life.

Opportunities for networking and growth

GeoCongress 2025 is more than just an academic gathering – it is an opportunity for professional growth and networking. Participants will meet peers, mentors, and industry leaders, establishing connections that can lead to new research projects and collaborations.

There is plenty to look forward to at this year's conference. Here are the key dates and event highlights for GeoCongress 2025.

• Call for abstracts: Closes on 31 March 2025

• Early bird registration: Closes on 31 March 2025

• Final registration deadline: Closes on 22 June 2025

Event highlights:

• 23 and 24 June 2025: Pre-conference workshops and field trips

• 25 to 27 June 2025: Conference programme featuring keynote speakers, academic sessions, and networking opportunities

Registration fees:

• Standard registration: R3 500 (from 1 February 2025)

• Students and retirees: Flat rate of R500 (proof of registration required for students)

Additional costs:

• Workshops and one-day excursions: Visit the GeoCongress website for information on the costs

• Conference/gala dinner: R500

For more information, please contact us at secretariat@geocongress2025.org.za.

News Archive

SA cannot sustain momentum - Boesak

2010-09-02

Photo: Stephen Collett

South Africa finds it increasingly difficult to live up to the challenges facing it as a nation because of its failure to meet its democratic ideals and possibilities, peace and lack of self-belief.

This was according to renowned cleric and former political activist, Dr Allan Boesak, who recently delivered the CR Swart Memorial Lecture, the oldest memorial lecture at the University of the Free State (UFS). His lecture was on the topic Creating moments, sustaining momentum.

He said South Africa had plenty of opportunities to show the whole world what was possible if all the people of this country joined hands and worked together to build a truly united society. However, he said, the country somehow invariably contrived to find its way out of these wonderful possibilities.

He cited events of historical significance like Codesa, the inauguration of Nelson Mandela as the first democratic president of South Africa, the assassination of South African Communist Party leader, Chris Hani; and the rugby and soccer world cups.
To drive his point home about this dismal failure of the country to “sustain momentum”, he alluded to the current public servants’ strike that is gradually crippling public service.

“The public servants’ strike was neither unexpected nor is it completely unjustifiable. Most of us have understanding for the frustration of teachers and health workers. Their demands resonate with most of us, and I think that it is scandalous of SACP fat cats to tell workers to “stop crying like babies,” he said.

He also added to the criticism of the much-maligned decision of the government to spend billions of taxpayers’ money to purchase weapons when there was “no discernible military threat” to the country. He said the greatest threat to the security of the country was poverty, inequality and social cohesion.

“As for the argument that arms sales bring in foreign exchange – how can we be instrumental in killing the poor elsewhere with the intention of feeding our poor, and then our ill-gained profits feed only the already well-fed?” he asked.
“Can we see the hopeless contradiction, the total impossibility of being both the apostle of peace and a merchant of death?”

He also lambasted the Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) policy of the government which he said benefited only those connected to the political aristocracy.

“It couples with the unashamed, in-your-face display of wealth by the privileged elite in this country, the crass materialism of the so-called “bling generation”, and the casual carelessness with which promises to the poor are given and treated. It is only the public symptom of the deep-seated scorn our political elites feel for the poor,” he said.

He said the government’s disdain to the poor was “setting fire to our future”.

“The anger of people on the ground can no longer be denied or ignored, and little by little, the leadership articulating and directing this anger is being estranged from politically elected leadership, and even more disturbing, from our democratic processes,” he said.

He concluded that the country’s difficulty in dealing with race and racism was putting the reconciliation process kick-started by Mandela just over a decade ago, under a threat.

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