Given the increasing global strategic importance of energy and mineral resources, in addition to the exploration of the sea bed, primarily in the Atlantic Ocean, the Portuguese-speaking scientific community will certainly have an important role to play in the future of our planet. On the other hand globalization, which has now infiltrated every dominion of science, teaching and technology, justifies creating more and more synergies within the community of geoscientists united by language.

The contacts made between the ruling bodies of the Sociedade Geológica de Portugal – SGP (Geological Society of Portugal) and the Sociedade Brasileira de Geologia (Brazilian Geology Society), during the 45º Congresso Brasileiro de Geologia (45th Brazilian Geological Congress) Belém city, State of Pará, September 2010, resulted in the signing of a protocol of collaboration between the two societies, covering a series of joint activities. Building on the close contacts already existing between geologists of both countries, especially within the scope of geochemistry and the Quaternary, it was decided to promote periodic scientific meetings in association with the respective national congresses, now extended to all Portuguese-speaking countries and to all fields of geoscience.

As a result, the 1º Congresso Brasileiro de Geologia - CoGePLiP (1st Geology Congress of the Portuguese-speaking Nations) will be held at the same time as the 46º Congresso Brasileiro de Geologia (46th Brazilian Congress of Geology), in Santos, from September 30 to October 5, 2012.

The scheduled meetings will enable even closer scientific, technical and cultural relations among our nations’ scientific communities, in addition to taking cooperation on existing projects to the next level, while at the same time creating possibilities for new projects. They will also provide greater and better knowledge of on going activities by companies in the different countries. In other words, the meetings will further boost collaboration in the fields of economics and technology transfer. No less important is the fact that the contacts between the exploration teams will lead to more extensive development of intervarsity relations, with a view to producing citizens of this still emerging but large community united by a common language.

Convinced of the importance of developing this technical and scientific cooperation, and of the unique opportunity for bringing together at this congress an extensive universe of colleagues, investigators, specialists, university personnel and end-users, we invite everyone to take part.

Welcome to Santos (SP).

Moacir José Buenano Macambira
President of the SBG

Fábio Machado
President of the Congress

Rogério Rocha
President of the SGP