UP Geological Society, the oldest organization of the National Institute of Geological Sciences (NIGS) in the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD), will be hosting the National Geology Congress (NGC) 2026 this upcoming March 13-14, 2026. In its 13th installment, the NGC aims to continue to fulfill its advocacy of making the geosciences accessible to the masses. The NGC serves as the flagship event of the organization, occurring annually on the university grounds since 2013. It consists of a two-day program subdivided into three events:
Lirip: A High School Workshop (HSW) is a one-day workshop for high school students, allowing them to strengthen their basic knowledge of the earth sciences. Specifically, this subevent will consist of a talk on the applications of geology, followed by lectures and workshops on basic mineral and rock identification and geohazards, respectively. A museum tour shortly after will provide the students a greater appreciation of the geologic collection iat UP-NIGS itself.
Banaag: An Earth Science Teachers’ Seminar (ESTS) is a one-day seminar for high school teachers, expanding their understanding of the earth sciences to help them adopt a more engaging and holistic approach to teaching. It will feature talks on marine science, geothermal energy, and effective science communication. This will be followed by a workshop on hazard resilience facilitated by the UP NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards) group. Similarly to HSW, the teachers will have the chance to explore the samples of the NIGS Museum and the Marine Science Institute (MSI) collections.
Lastly, GeoQuiz: An Earth Science Competition, is a quiz bee designed to challenge the wits of high school students through a written and movement-type elimination round, followed by a live quiz final round. The topics range from the basic principles of geology, field techniques, and earth history, to recent geology-related events in the country.
HSW and ESTS will both take place on March 13, whereas GeoQuiz will be conducted on the last day, March 14. Both teachers and students will have the opportunity to learn from acclaimed lecturers and engage with fellow participants.
Last year, the NGC was able to gather a grand total of 156 participants all over the country. Among these, 56 teachers and 100 students participated in the ESTS and HSW, respectively, while 30 teams competed in the GeoQuiz. This year, the event aims to deliver even more enriching topics and gather a wider audience while maintaining the same caliber of speakers and lecturers.
With the theme “Adapting to a Changing Earth”, this installment will feature discussions on the dynamic nature of the planet, including climate change and natural hazards. It will also highlight various approaches to adaptation, such as reducing vulnerabilities, strengthening resilience and public awareness, promoting sustainable practices, and advancing innovative and efficient technologies to support responsible development. Through such discussions, NGC 2026 aspires to equip participants with knowledge and more refined critical thinking skills – contributing to a more well-informed and resilient society.
