Document written by Dr. Georgeta Predeanu,
Chair of the Organizing Committee of the 69-th ICCP Annual Meeting
The Romanian Academy and the Romanian Academy Library hosted between 3-9 September 2017 the 69-th International Conference of the International Committee for Coal and Organic Petrology.
The meeting was organized under the auspices of the Romanian Academy, with the support and collaboration of the International Committee for Coal and Organic Petrology (ICCP), represented by the ICCP President, Dr. Angeles Gomez Borrego (Instituto National del Carbon, Oviedo, Spain), and of the ICCP Council and Scientific Committee, who attended the meeting in Bucharest.
The organizers and the co-organizers were the University Politehnica of Bucharest (PUB), University of Bucharest (UB) and the Ministry of Research and Innovation (MCI), representing at national level the authority, the centers and the university elite associated to this research field. These organizations perfectly collaborated for the success of the event, aiming to support and to promote the fundamental and interdisciplinary scientific research in Romania and abroad.
Organic petrology research in Romania and in the world. The role of the ”International Committee for Coal and Organic Petrology (ICCP)”
The International Committee for Coal and Organic Petrology (ICCP http://www.iccop.org) developed since its founding in 1953 in Geleen (The Netherlands) an intensive activity for developing this research field. ICCP elaborated the internationally accepted terminology and the nomenclature for coal and organic matter from oil source rocks, promoting international standardization and research methods in microscopy.
The petrographic research through optical microscopy already counts eight decades of tradition and it represents a top research field for organic matter: coals, oil generating rocks, bituminous shale, as well as for derived products.
The activity developed by petrologists between 1920-1950, three decades before founding ICCP, certainly contributed to the founding of Coal and Steel Community in 1952. For developing the base European industrial sectors (coal and steel), the researches undertaken by petrologists were instrumental for the common market, therefore permitting the founding of the European Community in 1957 by countries well represented in the ICCP (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and The Netherlands).
Petrology in Romania
During the last six decades, research in coal and organic matter closely followed fields such as geology, mining, energy and carbochemistry, fields which were developed and diversified according to national priorities in steel, energy, and production of carbonic materials. Without any doubt, developing these research fields also developed the petrology in Romania. The new ICCP-2017 meeting, the first organized in Bucharest since 1999, increased the visibility of Romanian petrology results and of their contribution to the international scientific heritage.
A special role in developing petrology in Romania and internationally belongs to the contributions of Romanian active ICCP members, such as Dr. Eng. Cornelia Bițoianu, Professor emeritus Cornelia Panaitescu Honorary Member of the ICCP, Dr. Eng. Georgeta Predeanu a member of the ICCP Council between 2004-2012, Dr. Eng. Călin Dumitrescu, Dr. Eng. Costel Nedelcu, Professor Nicolae Țicleanu, Eng. Maria Doina Ghiran and Professor Mihai Emilian Popa.
The international conference in Bucharest
Structure of participants and representing members: ICCP has today more than 200 members from approximately 40 countries. (www.iccop.org).
Group photo of the ICCP members and guests
The ICCP-2017 conference was attended by 126 researchers from 20 countries: South Africa, United Kingdom, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, India, Iraq, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Spain, United States, Turkey, Hungary. The attendees came from prestigious universities such as University of Southampton (UK), University of Porto (Portugal), University of Coimbra (Portugal), Hacettepe University (Turkey), Masarik University (Czech Republic), University of Patras (Greece), University of Silesia (Poland), University of Queensland (Australia), University of Johannesburg (South Africa), University of Belgrade (Serbia), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), University Politehnica of Bucharest, University of Bucharest (Romania), from famous research institutes such as Instituto Nacional del Carbon INCAR-CSIC (Spain), Central Institute of Mining & Fuel Research (India), Geological Survey of Canada, US Geological Survey (USA), Institute for Chemical Processing of Coal (Poland), Indian Institute of Technology – Indian School of Mines (India), Institute for Macromolecular Chemistry ”Petru Poni” of the Romanian Academy (Romania), National Institute for Research and Development in Electrical Engineering ICPE-CA and from large steel companies, such as TATA Steel (India), or from oil companies such as OMV Petrom (Romania), Winterhall (Germany) and Shell (The Netherlands).
Dr. Georgeta Predeanu – Chair of the Organizing committee, ICCP member (University Politehnica of Bucharest and Romanian Academy)the Romanian Academy Aula, September 4th 2017
Acad. Bogdan C. Simionescu – Vice President of the Romanian Academy, Honorary Member of the Organizing Committee, Plenary Session, the Romanian Academy Aula, September 4th 2017
Prof. Mihai E. Popa, Member of the Organizing Committee, ICCP member, Plenary Session, the Romanian Academy Aula, September 4th 2017
Dr. Vasile Şindilar – OMV Petrom, ICPT Câmpina, Plenary Session, the Romanian Academy Aula, September 4th 2017
Dr. Angeles G. Borrego – President of the International Committee for Coal and Organic Petrology (Instituto Nacional del Carbón INCAR-CSIC, Oviedo, Spain) Plenary Session, the Romanian Academy Aula, September 4th 2017
ICCP members, Plenary Session, the Romanian Academy Aula, September 4th 2017
The main objectives of the conference
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- – Emphasizing the accomplishments and the progress in organic petrology in attendees countries and their impact for high-tech applications through disseminating knowledge in this field;
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- – Promoting petrology through debate sessions for key themes of accreditation programs (Single Coal Accreditation Program – SCAP; Dispersed Organic Matter – DOMVR), of training (Dispersed Organic Matter – Integrating transmitted and reflected light microscopy), standardizing (Commission I), study of rock sources (Commission II), industrial applications (Commission III), microscopy of material textures and structures, study of coal, kerogen and palynofacies;
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- – Increasing international collaboration and integrating the Romanian researchers in the European Research Area and in international programs for increasing the visibility of Romanian petrology research (UPB) and connected fields (geology, mining, energy, advanced materials, waste recycling);
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- – Increasing public awarness regarding the significance of research and the support for the national research strategy for organic petrology, for investigating advanced materials for energy;
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- – Promoting cross-field research as reflected by the Strategy of the Romanian Academy for the next 20 years regarding the Natural Resources and the Energy Security and Efficiency of Romania;
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- – Increasing the visibility of the ICCP conference through editing and publishing of:
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- a. SDGG, 2017, Heft 92 (Schriftenreihe der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften, ISSN 1543-0537, E. Schweitzerbart science publishers, Stuttgart, 156 p.), a publication which includes all contributions of the ICCP-2017 conference (67 abstracts with a maximum length of two pages);
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- b. ”Pliocene coals and Neogene Formations of the Prahova County: field-trip guide”, by Mihai Emilian Popa, Georgeta Predeanu, Maria Doina Ghiran, Izabela Mariş, Roxana Pirnea, University of Bucharest Press, 2017, ISBN 978-606-16-0905-5, 66 p.
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- c. ICCP News (ISSN 1445-4793), three successive issues covering the meeting (65-67) and another issue to be published in December 2017 (no. 68);
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- d. A special issue of International Journal of Coal Geology including up to 15 selected papers.
Associated activities:
a) Plenary session, organized on 4 September 2017 for increasing the visibility of Romanian contributions, introducing the main accomplishments of Romanian industry in the field during the last century and a half. During the Plenary session, three key lecures were delivered regarding Romanian strategy resources, coals and oil.
General assembly of the ICCP opening session, Amphitheater Ion Heliade Radulescu, Romanian Academy Library
Acad. Florin Filip – General Director of the Romanian Academy Library, Dr. Angeles G. Borrego, Dr. Georgeta Predeanu, Dr. Romina Mihalache (Romanian Academy), member of the Organizing Committee
Acad. Florin Filip – General Director of the Romanian Academy Library, speaking about the homage year 150 years since the founding of the Romanian Academy Library in the ICCP2017 Opening Session, Amphitheater Ion Heliade Radulescu, Romanian Academy Library
b) ”Advances in Applied Coal and Organic Petrology” organized during 8 September 2017 for introducing the current knowledge and results in organic petrology, for integrating the Romanian research community in the international community. During the symposium, talks and posters were presented, with posters held during the whole conference (3-9 September 2017).
Participants visiting ICCP2017 poster session organized in the exhibition hall of the Romanian Academy Library (3 – 9 September 2017)
c) Mc. Round table: “Coal Quo Vadis?” organized in 8 September 2017, for clarifying the world tendencies for coal use in a global climate change context;
d) Ed. Geological field-trip associated to the ICCP-2017 conference in 9 September 2017, organized for visiting a series of significant geological sites. The itinerary included the following stops: 1. Roșioara Quarry in Filipeștii de Pădure, for visiting pliocene lignites of the Dacian Basin; 2. Slănic Prahova salt mine, the Slănic Prahova Salt Mountain (geologial Site of Special Scientific Interest – SSSI);
Visit to the Roşioara open querry in Filipeștii de Pădure – geological excursion (September 9, 2017)
Visit of the Slănic Prahova Unirea Salt Mine – geological excursion (September 9, 2017)
Visit of the Slănic Prahova Salt Mountine (geological site of Special Scientific Interest – SSSI) – Geological Excursion (September 9, 2017)
Visit of the Slănic Prahova Salt Mountine (geological site of Special Scientific Interest – SSSI) – Geological Excursion (September 9, 2017). Organizing Committee (Maria D. Ghiran, Jolanta Kus, Izabela Maris, Călin Dumitrescu, Georgeta Predeanu, Romina Mihalache and Mihai E. Popa)
e) Exhibition of specific materials:palaeoflora – unique hand specimens (University of Bucharest), and sub-products obtained through distillation of coal and oil (semi-coke, steel coke, granular coke, asphaltic coke, oil coke, carbon materials; University Politehnica of Bucharest). Hand specimens from Banat area were introduced, as well as Romanian technologies for fuels distillation, developed by researchers and applied in specialized industrial units between 1948-2000;
Samples of rocks with Paleozoic and Mesozoic fossil plants (I), the collection Prof. Mihai E. Popa
Samples of natural graphite, oil shale and carbonaceous precursor materials (xylite charcoal and activated carbon type), Carbochemistry Laboratory collection – UPB
Samples of briquettes from lignite and bituminous coal of Lupeni, metallurgical coke, coke briquettes, hard pitch, coke and petroleum coke (raw and calcined) chemical by-products, Carbochemistry Laboratory collection – UPBB
ICCP members visiting the Cretaceous marine fossils of Rudisti Jud. Cluj, (https://flickr.com/photos/pachypteris) area of Politehnica subway station
Politehnica subway station – Examples of Cretaceous marine fossils of Rudisti Jud. Cluj
f) Exhibition of scientific literature in the field of coal, oil and energy. Geological and technological books were presented, together with field periodicals showing the pioneering contributions of Romanian geologists and chemists in the field of organic petrology, some pioneering contributions less known internationally;
Acad. Bogdan C. Simionescu, Prof. Aurelia Meghea (University Politehnica of Bucharest and the Romanian Academy), Dr. Georgeta Predeanu, Dr. Romina Mihalache visiting the exhibition of specific materials and scientific literature in the field of coal, oil and energy, held in exhibition Hall of Romanian Academy Library (3 – 9 September 2017)
Acad. Florin Filip and Dr. Georgeta Predeanu – Exhibition of specific materials and scientific literature in the field of coal, oil and energy, held in the exhibition hall of the Romanian Academy Library (3 – 9 September 2017)
g) Promoting cross-field research introducing the five volumes of the Romanian Strategy for development in the future 20 years, dealing also with fossil fuels resources of Romania.
h) Microscopy demonstrations by Zeiss and Olympus
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- organized during the whole conference for introducing new equipments and research tools for increasing reaserch accuracy in petrology. Presentations of laboratory gear were given by Analytik Jena and Nitech, sponsors of the event.
Microscopy session organized in the microscopy exhibition (Zeiss, Olympus) organized throughout the event and laboratory equipment (Analytik Jena and Nitech) organized throughout the event
Conclusions to the ICCP-2017 conference in Bucharest
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- – Diverse themes and complex contributions;
– 67 contribuitions, of which four were key lectures, 14 talks and 49 poster presentations;
– 126 participants, higher than planned and higher than previous editions of the conference;
– Scientific status of attendees offered new opportunities for research and international collaborations, as well as continuing, current collaborations;
– High interest of participants for the theme of the conference and for the opportunities offered by petrology in various fields such as energy, environment and materials;
– SC Trima Events srl (http://trima-events.ro) offered an excellent management and assured the high standards of the conference;
– Positive apreciations were received from important scientists such as Acad. Bogdan C. Simionescu, Acad. N. Panin, Acad. Florin Filip, and also by foreign attendees, such as Dr. Angeles Borrego, Peter Crosdale, Paul Hackley, Kimon Christanis, Paddy Ranasinghe, Deolinda Flores, Jolanta Kus, others.
– This conference offered an unique opportunity for cross-field discussions between geologists, chemists, fuel engineers and organic-syntheses engineers or experts in materials;
– Improving the optical microscopy investigation methods through introducing new equipments for complex optical analysis of coal and petroleum;
– Developing cross-field research activities in international teams for applications of organic petrology for new materials (carbon nanomaterials, top carbon materials, activated carbon, graphenes as precursors in top applications and technologies);
– Increasing Romanian society awareness regarding the significance of research and supporting the national strategy for research, development and innovation, for organic petrology in investigating advanced materials and opening new research directions;
– Increasing the Romanian research visibility of contributions in organic petrography and in connected fields (geology, mining, energy, advanced materials, waste recycling);
– Integrating the Romanian research community in international activities through coordinating the ICCP working group ”The Microscopy of carbon materials”, a group which includes researchers from ten countries;
– Attendance of young, undergraduate and graduate students in geology.
- – Diverse themes and complex contributions;
Awarding participation with scientific works of young geologists students in the bachelor, master and doctoral studies of Greece, Portugal and Romania
The international meeting hosted this year by the Romanian Academy in Bucharest was a high level ICCP conference, with the attendance of important scientists who appreciated it as a reference and memorable meeting, as well as an exceptional success of partnership within organizational institutions.
Among the reasons for the success of this scientific meeting are included the high visibility of the meeting, doubled by the quality of publications which disseminate organic petrology results introduced during the ICCP-2017 conference.
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