The prime purpose of the Institute of Earth Sciences and National Seismic Monitoring Centre is to develop earth sciences in the country, implement modern research methods in this direction, as well as create and introduce the most sophisticated scientific technologies and equipment. Multiple fields of the natural environment that is directly connected to Georgia's sustainable development is dependent on earth sciences.The top priority of the Institute of Earth Sciences and NSMC is to ensure maximum involvement of the students of Ilia State University (ISU), as well as other higher education institutions of Georgia in the research process. The institute also aims to pass down to future generations the knowledge and experience acquired by scientists in the field of earth sciences and create any material and technical databases necessary for this purpose, as well as improve working conditions for the employees.ISU actively cooperates with the Universities and Research Institutions of Europe, Asia and the U.S. Transferring modern and up-to-date methods and latest scientific achievements is one of the key prerequisites for proper planning and implementation of future research activities of the Institute of Earth Sciences and NSMC.The ISU Institute of Earth Sciences and NSMC comprises the research, science and learning departments as follows: Seismic Monitoring Center and the Departments of Geology, Geography, Seismology, Engineering Seismology, Applied Geophysics, Geodesy and Computing and Software.The Institute carries out local and global research in active tectonics and volcanism, climate changes, the earth ecosystem, biodiversity, raw materials and other resources of the planet, seismic dangers and risk assessment, formulation of norms for construction industry, as well as geophysical, geomorphological and geological sciences, which are applied in geological, geographic, engineering and archeological works, as well as other natural sciences and social sectors.The Institute of Earth Sciences and NSMC is also an organization operating Georgia's National Seismic Network and the seismic database. In addition, the institute conducts geodetic observations and operates GPS Observation Network.