The Institute of Geology and Geophysics, CAS, was created in June 1999 by the merging of two separate CAS institutes, the Institute of Geology and the Institute of Geophysics. Before the integration, both institutes had long histories and their great achievements in science and research had given them a both strong reputation in academic circles at home and abroad.

Geology and Geophysics are two branches of Earth sciences, the earliest natural science subject led in China. Therefore the Institutes of Geology and Geophysics had close relations throughout their long-term development.

The origin of the Institute of Geology can be traced back to 1928 when the Institute was founded in Shanghai, under the directorship of Li Siguang. This Institute was home to many pioneering Chinese geologists, including Hou Defeng, Yin Zanxun, Zhang Wenyou, Ye Lianjun and Liu Dongsheng.

The origin of the Institute of Geophysics can be traced back to 1913 when the Institute of the Geological Survey, under the Bureau of Industry and Commerce, was founded in Beiping (now Beijing). The Geophysics division of this Institute originally focused on research on meteorology and seismology and was separated into two institutes in 1950.

Important Events

The original Institute of Geology:

1928　　The Institute of Geology, Shanghai, founded

1951　　The Institute of Geology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, founded

1960　　Branch of Lanzhou Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, founded

1966　　Branch of Guiyang Geochemistry Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, founded

1978　　Branch of the Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration, founded

1985　　Key Laboratory of Engineering Geomechanics, Chinese Academy of Science, founded

1990　　Key Laboratory of Lithospheric Evolution founded

1997　　Geological environment Research Center founded, Mineral Resources Research Center founded, Slope Engineering Research Center founded

1999　　Integrated with the Institute of Geophysics

The original Institute of Geophysics:

1928　　The Institute of Meteorology, Shanghai, founded

1950　　Chinese Academy of Sciences took over 24 institutes, the Institute of Geophysics founded

1954　　The Institute of Geophysics moved to Beijing

1959　　Branch of the Lanzhou Institute of Geophysics founded

1966　　Divided into five Institutes: Institute of Geophysics, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Institute of Applied Geophysics, Lanzhou Institute of Geophysics and Kunming Institute of Geophysics

1972　　Taken over by China Earthquake Administration and separated from the CAS

1978　　Reunited with the CAS as the Institute of Geophysics

1988　　WDC-D Geophysical Data Center founded

1994　　Research Center for Mineral Resource Exploration, Chinese Academy of Sciences founded

1999　　Integrated with the Institute of Geology

Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences:

1999　　Institute of Geology and Geophysics, CAS founded, with Ding Zhongli as director

2003　　Academician Liu Dongsheng won National Super Scientific and Technical Prize

2004　　Took over Lanzhou Institute of Geology and set up Lanzhou Research Center

2005　　State key Laboratory of Lithospheric Evolution founded, with Zhu Rixiang as director

2007　　Zhu Rixiang elected as director of the Institute