May 10th is Geology DayMETI to Hold an Exhibition Event in the Lobby on the First Floor of METI's Main Building

Note* Intellectual Infrastructure:
METI positions geological information, measurement standards, microbial genetic resources, and other information as an intellectual infrastructure, and it has been endeavoring to develop such information as an important and essential infrastructure to bolster the people's living and the social economic activities of Japan, including securing safety and security in the lives of the people, and maintaining and strengthening Japan's competitiveness in the global markets. METI has been developing such information based on the Science and Technology Basic Plan adopted by the Government of Japan.

Geology Day was established by geology-related organizations and academic societies, including Geological Survey of Japan (GSJ)/National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), originating from May 10, 1876, when a geological map covering wide areas was created for the first time in Japan (Geological Sketch Map of the Island of Yesso, Japan, with a scale of 1 to 2,000,000).

1. Date: Monday, April 15 to Friday, May 10, 2013
2. Venue: Lobby on the first floor (at the front entrance side), METI's main building
3. Displays

Panel exhibition

1. Introduction of Geology Day
2. What is the intellectual infrastructure? Position of the intellectual infrastructure in the national policy, introduction of the outline of the development of geological information undertaken as a part of the development of the intellectual infrastructure
3. Examples of METI's efforts toward the development of geological information
   • Introduction of the efforts toward the development of quadrangle geological maps and the centralization of data regarding boring
   • Introduction of the efforts toward the development of a method for assessing the risks of comprehensive geological disasters that may occur accompanying huge earthquake and tsunami disasters, targeting the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011
   • Introduction of the efforts related to resources and energy, such as fuel resources maps and geothermal resources maps
4. Introduction of the efforts to provide geological information that is comprehensible and accessible to the public who are interested in the risk of geological disasters
5. Introduction of the efforts to provide geological information that is accessible to businesses, according to the national policy to promote utilization of the public data owned by the Government of Japan

Specimen exhibition

METI will also display precious samples that were discovered in the process of geological surveys, including geological specimens created by gathering boring samples that were excavated from the soft ground in Koto Ward, Tokyo, along with fossils and minerals, such as large ammonite fossils and crystals.

April 15, 2013

Measurement and Intellectual Infrastructure Division, Industrial Science and Technology Policy and Environment Bureau

For details on technical information, please contact Geological Survey of Japan.