Sinkankas Symposium

Named for one of the most distinguished and influential figures in gemology and mineralogy, the Sinkankas Symposium is a one-day event featuring presentations by noted specialists working in diverse gem-related disciplines or occupations. The theme of the Twentieth Sinkankas Symposium is the gems and minerals of Burma, home to a region with some of the most storied and significant gem-producing deposits in the world.

The Sinkankas Symposium has been described as the most important gemological conference in North America by respected authorities on gemstones. Originally oganized by Roger Merk, the event is co-sponsored by the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) and Geo-Literary Society. GIA's worldwide headquarters at its Carlsbad campus has provided the event's venue since 2003. Bill Larson has been a generous supporter and lively speaker at the event since its inception. Robert Weldon will emcee the Sinkankas Symposium in 2026.

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