Mission statement
A The fundamental tasks of the Institute for Geological and Geochemical Research are to perform research on the frontier topics of geochemistry, mineralogy, petrology, geology and hydrology, as well as to apply the acquired knowledge and research infrastructure to structural geology, hydrogeology, environmental geology and archaeometry. The mission of the institute focuses on three primary areas:
- Gathering scientific knowledge about the factors that determine our environmental conditions and the general processes of mineral and rock formation.
- Domestic and international dissemination of research results in geochemistry, as well as representation of the field on an international level.
- The maintenance and development of the material and intellectual infrastructure of geochemical research to serve emerging scientific, social or economic needs.
New research groups
The Institute of Geology and Geochemistry operates within the HUN-REN Astronomy and Earth Sciences Research Center. Currently, the laboratories, as functional units, form the basis of the institute, with the research groups organized into research topic groups. The purpose of organizing research groups working on special research projects into research topic groups is to strengthen cooperation, joint publication and application, and synergy. Research topic groups and research groups:
- Paleoclimate and Environmental Geochemistry research topic group. The Geochemistry and Paleoclimate Research Group, the Paleoclimate 2ka Momentum Research Group, the Water Geochemistry Working Group, and the NanoCave Research Group operate within the topic group.
- Applied Geochemistry Competence Centre. Beyond the scope of a research topic group, the research background of the participants and the developed infrastructure have created a set of competencies, which we also utilize in applied research tasks and R&D contracts in addition to basic research projects. This is expressed by the establishment of the competence center. The MTA-HUN-REN CSFK PannonVolcano Momentum Research Group, the Archaeometry and Bioarchaeology Research Group, as well as researchers working on materials science and environmental safety (e.g. waste disposal) research operate within the Competence Centre.
Activities of the institute
Contacts
Director's Secretariat
- +36 30 317 5323
- +36 1 319 3137
- +36 1 309 2600 / 1397
- 1112 Budapest, Budaörsi út 45.
- olajos.helga at csfk.hun-ren.hu
Acting Director:
István Gábor Hatvani,
DSc
News
The final program of the 10th BSA is available
The final programme for the 10th Balkan Symposium on Archaeometry – Connecting Minds: Unveiling the Past Together, to be held in Budapest from 19 to 22 October 2026, is now available. Detailed information is provided in both Hungarian and English on the conference website. The strong interest in this anniversary conference is reflected in the approximately 180 registered participants, 78 oral presentations, 35 posters, six keynote lectures, and two sponsor presentations.
The scientific programme is organised into twelve thematic sessions covering the principal areas of archaeometry, archaeological science and heritage science. The sessions are complemented by six keynote lectures, in which internationally recognised scholars will present their latest findings, methodological developments and broad syntheses. The programme also includes two sponsor presentations.
Poster presentations and their accompanying flash talks will provide a forum for professional dialogue across research generations. Owing to the high number and quality of submissions, presentations will take place in two parallel venues throughout the three conference days.
On the fourth day, the programme will be complemented by guided professional visits. Participants may choose from visits to the Aquincum Museum and Archaeological Park, Buda Castle and the Budapest History Museum, and the Budapest Neutron Centre.
The conference abstract book is currently being prepared and will be made publicly available before the conference. Recordings of the presentations will be published on the ELTE RCH YouTube channel, and the publication of selected conference papers in a scientific journal is also planned. The event will be accompanied by a podcast series and a public outreach lecture, in which László Bartosiewicz will commemorate Sándor Bökönyi on the centenary of his birth. The lecture will recall the work of this internationally influential pioneer of modern archaeozoology and offer an overview of current research perspectives in the field.
The conference is organised by the Institute of Geological and Geochemical Research, HUN-REN Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences and the Institute of Archaeology, ELTE Research Centre for the Humanities, in collaboration with the MTA–ELTE RCH Lendület “Momentum” BASES Research Group.
The conference has been made possible through the support of the Scientific Patronage Programme of the National Research, Development and Innovation Office and the National Cultural Fund of Hungary. We thank the members of the Scientific Committee for their careful evaluation work, all contributors for their participation, and Isotoptech Zrt. and JEOL for their financial support.
The final conference programme is available here: https://www.bsa2026budapest.com/programme
10th Balkan Symposium on Archaeometry — International conference on the cultural heritage of the Balkans and the wider region from Prehistory to the Early Modern Period
The 10th Balkan Symposium on Archaeometry — Connecting Minds: Unveiling the Past Together international conference, jointly organized by the Institute for Geological and Geochemical Research, HUN-REN Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences, and the Institute of Archaeology, ELTE Research Centre for the Humanities, will be held between October 19 and 22, 2026. The international conference to be held in Budapest provides a unique opportunity for archaeologists, archaeometrists and scientists from the Balkans and beyond to meet and exchange ideas on the latest developments in archaeometry, archaeological science and heritage science. Attendees will also have the chance to present their latest research results spanning the prehistoric to early modern ages.
István Gábor Hatvani is a member of the Young Academy of Europe!
A new Hungarian member has been elected in the Young Academy of Europe. István Gábor Hatvani, senior researcher of the institute, became a member of the YAE from May, 2025.