Beijing, China – The 41st Geoscience Information Consortium (GIC) Meeting concluded successfully in Beijing, bringing together leaders in field of geoscience information from around the world to advance digital transformation in Earth science. The meeting, themed around AI‑ready and interoperable geoscience data, provided an ideal platform for the Deep‑time Digital Earth (DDE) program to showcase its latest advances. Against the backdrop of rapid digital transformation, the meeting underscored the shared goal of building an AI‑ready, data‑driven future for global Earth science.

Group Photo

About the Geoscience Information Consortium (GIC)

The Geoscience Information Consortium (GIC) is an international organization comprising geological surveys from around the world. Its primary mission is to facilitate the exchange of information among national geological surveys on the strategy, use, and management of geoscience information systems. The GIC promotes knowledge sharing on geoscience information systems, provides a forum for discussing common challenges in data management and analysis, advocates for data standards and exchange formats, and influences the development of software, hardware, and network infrastructure. The annual GIC conference serves as a vital forum where geological surveys openly discuss the challenges of the digital era in geosciences, introduce their national activities, and report on sector developments. With 33 member countries spanning six continents, the GIC also fosters regional collaboration through subgroups such as the Nordic GIC and the Central European GIC (CE-GIC).

DDE‑ISI Gains Global Recognition

DDE President Harvey Thorleifson presented the latest developments of the DDE strategic framework and the International Science Initiative (DDE‑ISI) for 2025‑2028. Three major milestones were highlighted: DDE's formal incorporation into the UNESCO International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development (IDSSD), its recent approval as an official cooperating organization of CCOP (Coordinating Committee for Geoscience Programs in East and Southeast Asia), and a provisional approval by the IUGS Executive Committee as an independent affiliated member of IUGS. These recognitions reaffirm DDE's growing status as a global leader in open geoscience collaboration.

Prof. Harvey delivering his presentation on “Progress of DDE”

Pioneering AI in Earth Science

Prof. Qiuming Cheng, Chair of the DDE Executive Committee, introduced groundbreaking progress in "Science Foundational Models." He showcased practical AI tools, including the extended Alpha Earth Foundation (AEF+) model for mineral prospecting and assessments of other types of extreme geological events such as earthquakes and volcanos, as well as the XRF Model for mineral recognition from scanned XRF images—demonstrating a shift from traditional problem‑driven research to a data‑ and intelligence‑driven paradigm. This evolution promises to revolutionize resource prediction and our understanding of Earth's systems. Prof. Cheng also emphasized the importance of sharing scientific question‑driven foundational models while preserving the rights to raw data, offering a balanced approach to openness and data sovereignty.

Prof. Qiuming delivering his presentation on “Science Foundational Models”

Strengthening Partnerships with the GIC Community

The primary purpose of DDE's participation at the conference was to promote deeper partnerships within the GIC community, particularly through geological surveys worldwide. The collaboration focuses on fundamental science and critical areas such as minerals, energy, water resources, and geohazards. The conference participants reaffirmed their commitments to accelerating digital and AI transformation through enhanced international cooperation. The 41st GIC meeting, hosted by the China Geological Survey from 25–28 May 2026 at the China University of Geosciences in Beijing, brought together representatives from 26 national geological survey organizations including Australia, Germany, Switzerland, Slovenia, South Africa, and Namibia. The conference addressed pressing challenges such as data standards inconsistency, insufficient open sharing, data silos, and the relatively late adoption of intelligent applications. Participants called for deepened technical cooperation in geological surveys to tackle these issues and enhance the level of data openness and sharing, jointly advancing the coordinated development of informatization and enhanced use of intelligent technologies in global geological surveys.

Looking Ahead

As the 41st GIC meeting concluded, the message was clear: geoscience is entering a mature phase of digital transformation, facing both unprecedented opportunities and significant challenges. With its steadfast commitment to open science, shared knowledge, and collaborative AI, DDE remains at the forefront—decoding Earth's 4.6‑billion‑year memory and contributing to a sustainable future for all.