The Inaugural Ceremony of the Research Center on Deep Exploration & Deep Exploration Symposium were held in Beijing on June 29, 2015 and the Center will be administered and supported by both the China Geological Survey (CGS) and the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences (CAGS).

Dr. Zhong Ziran, the Vice Minister for Geological Survey, Ministry of Land and Resources of China (MLR) and President of CGS was present at the Inaugural Ceremony. Prof. Wang Xiaolie, the Executive Vice President of CAGS, and Dr. Jiang Jianjun, Director General of the Department of Science & Technology and International Cooperation, MLR unveiled for the Center together.

Prof. Lu Qingtian, the Deputy Director of the Institute of Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration, CAGS was appointed as the Director of the Center and Prof. Dong Shuwen, PI. of SinoProbe, the Honorary Director of the Center. Prof. Zhu Rixiang, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Director of the Institute of Geology and Geophysics, CAS serves as the Director of the Academic Committee of the Center.

More than 100 delegates from various Chinese governmental departments, universities and research institutions were present at the Inaugural Ceremony. Prof. Larry Brown from the Cornell University was especially invited to attend the Ceremony. At the Deep Exploration Symposium following the Inaugural Ceremony, Prof. Dong Shuwen and Prof. Larry Brown delivered talks entitled “Progress of and Prospects for SinoProbe – Deep Exploration in China” and “Deep Exploration Review” respectively.

The three main missions of the Center are to develop deep exploration technologies and innovate geoscientific theories, to conduct deep geological survey to explore energy and other resources as well as to better utilize land resources, and to nurture talents and promote international cooperation in deep exploration.

The five major tasks of the Center are to innovate theories on deep geological survey and deep processes, to conduct 3D exploration in deep earth abundant with mineral and energey resources; to implement scientific drilling and underground scientific experiments; to conduct deep process and geodynamic simulation; and to prepare for a national deep exploration program.

The Center includes five Research Divisions, namely Deep Structure and Energy Exploration, Deep Exploration of Metallic Mineral Resources, Deep Scientific Drilling and Underground Laboratory, Deep Geology and Crustal Evolution, and Data Monitoring Center and SinoProbe Office.

The Research Center on Deep Exploration was established based on the successful implementation of the SinoProbe Program— the Chinese government-funded earth science program launched in 2008 with the overall aim of exploring the composition, structure and evolution of the continental lithosphere beneath China and the processes causing earthquakes, geo-hazards and natural resources.