September 26, 2024. On September 25, 2024, the opening ceremony of the conference "Data Science, Geoinformatics and Systems Analysis in Geosciences" took place in the city of Suzdal. The conference was dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the Geophysical Center RAS and the 300th anniversary of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Leading scientists from Russia and abroad gathered in Suzdal to discuss issues of system analysis, geoinformatics, theory and practice of Big Data in Earth sciences.

From left to right: the co-chairs of the Program Committee Director of the GC RAS Corresponding Member of RAS Anatoly Soloviev and Chief Scientist of the GC RAS, Academician of RAS Alexey Gvishiani.

The conference was opened by the Co-chairman of the Program Committee, Chief Scientist of the GC RAS, Academician of RAS Alexey Gvishiani. "I would like to sincerely thank our many guests, whom we are glad to see here in the thousand-year-old Suzdal – the heart of ancient Russia. I hope that you will enjoy our main treat, more than 130 first-class scientific reports. The conference demonstrates a wide geography of participants. Scientists from 30 cities and 70 scientific organizations and universities of our country came to Suzdal. Scientists from 6 countries, representing Austria, India, China, Russia, Turkey, and the Republic of South Africa, will tell us about their results. The conference is attended by 195 delegates and accompanying persons, including 19 members of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The conference is organized by the Geophysical Center RAS, the Russian Academy of Sciences, and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation," said Academician of RAS Alexey Gvishiani.

"This is a very important event for geophysicists, geologists, and those who are engaged in data science," Academician of RAS Alexander Gliko said in his welcome speech. Welcoming words were delivered by academicians of RAS Nikolay Kasimov and Valery Bondur, Deputy Academician Secretary of the Department of Earth Sciences of RAS Corresponding Member of RAS Alexey Sobisevich, Corresponding Member of RAS Igor Rosenberg, PhD Elena Rovenskaya (Austria) and Nel Amoré (the Republic of South Africa), D.Sc. Alexander Ponomarev and D.Sc. Sergey Turuntaev. Honorary guests of the conference presented memorable gifts to the GC RAS. Congratulations were given by the President of RAS Academician of RAS Gennady Krasnikov, Vice-President of RAS Academician of RAS Vladislav Panchenko, Academician of RAS Vladimir Kotlyakov, et al.

Corresponding Member of RAS Igor Rosenberg presents Corresponding Member of RAS Anatoly Soloviev with the Pravda newspaper dated July 19, 1954, when the government of the USSR decided to participate in the International Geophysical Year.

The conference continued with a plenary session. In the report "70 Years of the Geophysical Center of RAS: the History of Formation and Modern Status", Corresponding Member of RAS Anatoly Soloviev, together with Academician of RAS Alexey Gvishiani, highlighted the milestones in the development of the GC RAS, from the creation of the Interdepartmental Committee established at the Presidium of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR in August 1954 to prepare and implement the International Geophysical Year to the establishment of the Geophysical Center RAS as a progressive academic institute. Special attention was paid to the personalities who contributed to the development of the scientific potential of the GC RAS. Anatoly Soloviev dwelled upon the research that is widely in demand in solving urgent applied issues.

Report by Corresponding Member of RAS Anatoly Soloviev.

Academician of RAS Valery Vernikovsky spoke about the research of tectonic processes and geodynamic modeling of key structures of the Russian Arctic. Dr. Xiaotao Chang (PRC) presented a report on monitoring changes in Arctic sea ice based on data from Icesat-2 and Sentinel-2 satellites. D.Sc. Vyacheslav Gusyakov made a report on the largest natural disasters in the Holocene and their impact on climate variations and ecosystems of the Earth.

"The expectations from the conference are the most positive. The organizers worked hard and chose a good place, time, and format. The festive atmosphere accompanies this event, while an extensive scientific program and many interesting reports are presented. 70 years is a milestone in the history of the organization's development. There are still many good deeds ahead and many great discoveries," commented Corresponding Member of RAS Alexey Sobisevich.