The International Geographical Union (IGU; French: Union géographique internationale, UGI) is an international geographical society. The first International Geographical Congress was held in Antwerp in 1871. Subsequent meetings led to the establishment of the permanent organization in 1922 in Brussels, Belgium. The International Geographical Union adheres to the International Science Council (ISC), which it recognizes as the coordinating body for the international organisations of science.
Objectives The IGU has seven objectives or aims:
to promote the study of geographical problems; to initiate and co-ordinate geographical research requiring international co-operation and to promote its scientific discussion and publication; to provide for the participation of geographers in the work of relevant international organizations; to facilitate the collection and diffusion of geographical data and documentation in and between all member countries; to promote International Geographical Congresses, regional conferences and specialized symposia related to the objectives of the Union; to participate in any other appropriate form of international co-operation with the object of advancing the study and application of geography; to promote international standardization or compatibility of methods, nomenclature, and symbols employed in geography.
Senior officers The following lists contain the senior officers of the IGU from 1922 to present.
Presidents 2024–present Nathalie Lemarchand 2021–24 Michael Meadows 2016–21 Yukio Himiyama 2012–16 Vladimir Aleksandrovich Kolosov 2008–12 Ronald Francis Abler 2006–07 José Palacio-Prieto (acting) 2004–06 Adalberto Vallega (died in office) 2000–04 Anne Buttimer 1996–2000 Bruno Messerli 1992–96 Herman Th. Verstappen 1988–92 Roland J. Fuchs 1984–88 Peter Scott 1980–84 Akin L. Mabogunje 1976–80 Michael J. Wise 1972–76 Jean Dresch 1968–72 Stanisław Leszczycki 1964–68 Shiba P. Chatterjee 1960–64 Carl Troll 1956–60 Hans Wilhelmsson Ahlmann 1952–56 L. Dudley Stamp 1949–52 George B. Cressey 1938–49 Emmanuel de Martonne 1934–38 Sir Charles Close 1931–34 Isaiah Bowman 1928–31 General Robert Bourgeois 1924–28 General Nicola Vacchelli 1922–24 Prince Roland Bonaparte
Secretaries-General and Treasurers 2021–present Barbaros Gönençgil 2010–20 Michael Meadows 2008–10 Yu Woo-ik 2000–08 Ronald Francis Abler 1992–2000 Eckart Ehlers 1984–92 Leszek A. Kosiński 1976–84 Walther Manshard 1968–76 Chauncy D. Harris 1956–68 Hans Boesch 1949–56 George H. T. Kimble 1940-49 Marguerite Lefèvre 1938–40 Paul Michotte 1931–38 Emmanuel de Martonne 1928–31 Filippo De Filippi 1922–28 Sir Charles Close
Commissions and Task Forces The IGU is organized into a number of commissions and task forces that deal with specific topics. The commission topics include e.g. specific approaches (e.g. Applied Geography), topics (e.g. Climatology, Health and Environment), methods (e.g. Geographical Information Science), and spatial examples (e.g. Mediterranean Basin). There are also commissions for the International Olympiad and Geographical Education. The two task forces are "Young and Early-Career Geographers" and "Centennial and Sesquicentennial".
IGU-CGE The IGU-CGE (Commission on Geographical Education) focuses on geography education. It is currently headed by co-chairs Clare Brooks (UK) and Chew-Hung Chang (Singapore). It publishes the IRGEE journal and organizes yearly conferences. The "International Charter on Geographical Education" constitutes an international agreement on different aspects of geography education with global impacts. The 2016 charter features important geography education research questions and policy recommendations. As such the charter is: Convinced that geographical education is indispensable to the development of responsible and active citizens in the present and future world; Conscious that geography can be an informing, enabling and stimulating subject at all levels in education, and contributes to a lifelong enjoyment and understanding of our world; Aware that students require increasing international competence in order to ensure effective cooperation on a broad range of economic, political, cultural and environmental issues in a shrinking world; Concerned that geographical education is neglected in some parts of the world, and lacks structure and coherence in others; Ready to assist colleagues in counteracting geographical illiteracy in all countries of the world. In the 1992 charter there is also information on geographic questions, key concepts, approaches and the selection of spatial examples.
List of congresses International Geographical Congresses have been held as follows:
Notes
References
Kish, George (1992) "International Geographical Union: A Brief History" GeoJournal 26, No. 2:224-228 ISSN 0343-2521 Marie-Claire Robic, Anne-Marie Briend, Mechtild Rössler (eds.) (1996) Geographers to the world. The International Geographical Union and the International Geographical Congress Paris: L'Harmattan ISBN 9782738445735 Dunbar, Gary S. (2001) Geography: Discipline, Profession and Subject since 1870: An International Survey Kluwer Academic Publishers ISBN 1-4020-0019-7 pg 36 Lidstone, John; Williams, Michael (2006) Geographical Education in a Changing World: Past Experience, Current Trends and Future Challenges Springer ISBN 978-1-4020-4806-7 pg 39 International Geographical Union (IGU) Royal Irish Academy (RIA)
External links International Geographical Union/Union Géographique Internationale
