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The Palaeontological Association

@thepalass

Official Bluesky of The Palaeontological Association (palass.org). Re-post of jobs and other events doesn't mean endorsement.

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Latest posts by The Palaeontological Association @thepalass

Bottom left: results of a principal co-ordinates analysis of astragalus shape data showing the theoretical minimum and maximum shapes in medial (PC1, horizontal axis) and proximal (PC2, vertical axis) view. Colours of the proboscidean families represented match those on the nearest neighbour distance tree shown top right. Bottom right: landmark template for the astragalus (based on specimen MNHN-ZM-AC-1900-187). Blue image at very top left is the cover of the journal Palaeontology.

Bottom left: results of a principal co-ordinates analysis of astragalus shape data showing the theoretical minimum and maximum shapes in medial (PC1, horizontal axis) and proximal (PC2, vertical axis) view. Colours of the proboscidean families represented match those on the nearest neighbour distance tree shown top right. Bottom right: landmark template for the astragalus (based on specimen MNHN-ZM-AC-1900-187). Blue image at very top left is the cover of the journal Palaeontology.

Functional adaptations to body mass in proboscidean ankle bones onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... @clementine-tetaert.bsky.social @camillebader.bsky.social @houssayecnrs.bsky.social

11.03.2026 13:29 👍 9 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
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🎥 We’re excited to share a new video on the PalAss YouTube channel!
You can now watch one of our webinars from last year created especially for Early Career Researchers. 
🔬 Explore the session and catch up on the knowledge you may have missed:
🔗 www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLQW...

#youtubechannel

10.03.2026 19:38 👍 3 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Centre: Field photograph of the Aguada de la Perdiz Formation at the Vega Pinato study section, Jujuy Province: conglomerate channel with bioclasts and calcareous reaction. Around this image are three photographs of conodonts extracted from this sample: top left is Bergstroemognathus extensus, Sa element (CEGH-UNC 27833) in posterior view; top right is Tropodus australis, S element (CEGH-UNC 278740 in lateral view; bottom right is Protopanderodus gradatus Serpagli, ab element (CEGH-UNC 27864) in lateral view. All scale bars are 100 microns. Red rectangle at lower left is a cover image for the journal Papers in Palaeontology.

Centre: Field photograph of the Aguada de la Perdiz Formation at the Vega Pinato study section, Jujuy Province: conglomerate channel with bioclasts and calcareous reaction. Around this image are three photographs of conodonts extracted from this sample: top left is Bergstroemognathus extensus, Sa element (CEGH-UNC 27833) in posterior view; top right is Tropodus australis, S element (CEGH-UNC 278740 in lateral view; bottom right is Protopanderodus gradatus Serpagli, ab element (CEGH-UNC 27864) in lateral view. All scale bars are 100 microns. Red rectangle at lower left is a cover image for the journal Papers in Palaeontology.

Lower Ordovician (Floian) conodonts from the Western Puna Magmatic Belt in NW Argentina: palaeobiogeographic significance & implications onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... #PapersinPalaeontology

10.03.2026 17:03 👍 8 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 0
Main image: blocks preserving fossil bones of the new plesiosaur (MUHNCAL.20173). A blue silhouette alongside shows the elements that have been recovered in white. Both images include a 10 cm scale bar alongside. Map in the top right corner is of South America, with Chile and the fossil locality highlighted. Red image in lower right corner is the cover of the journal Papers in Palaeontology.

Main image: blocks preserving fossil bones of the new plesiosaur (MUHNCAL.20173). A blue silhouette alongside shows the elements that have been recovered in white. Both images include a 10 cm scale bar alongside. Map in the top right corner is of South America, with Chile and the fossil locality highlighted. Red image in lower right corner is the cover of the journal Papers in Palaeontology.

A new Middle Jurassic marine reptile from Gondwana clarifies the origin of Cryptoclidia, the most successful group of plesiosaurs onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... #PapersinPalaeontology @morphobank.bsky.social

10.03.2026 16:52 👍 9 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Top left: photograph of a leaf-shaped fossil insect wing, preserved in a reddish matrix. This is Carbopsyllidium minutum (white scale bar in lower right corner is 1 mm). Lower half of image: Chronophylogram of Hemiptera showing a consensus of phylogenetic relationships. Time scale along the bottom stretches from the Carboniferous (in green on the left) to the Neogene (in yellow on the right). Red stars indicate new fossils, described in the paper, that have pushed back the origin of the main Hemiptera lineages in deep time. Top right: red rectangle is the cover image for the journal Papers in Palaeontology.

Top left: photograph of a leaf-shaped fossil insect wing, preserved in a reddish matrix. This is Carbopsyllidium minutum (white scale bar in lower right corner is 1 mm). Lower half of image: Chronophylogram of Hemiptera showing a consensus of phylogenetic relationships. Time scale along the bottom stretches from the Carboniferous (in green on the left) to the Neogene (in yellow on the right). Red stars indicate new fossils, described in the paper, that have pushed back the origin of the main Hemiptera lineages in deep time. Top right: red rectangle is the cover image for the journal Papers in Palaeontology.

Carboniferous fossils enlighten the systematics & evolution of Hemiptera onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... #PapersinPalaeontology

03.03.2026 17:14 👍 6 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 0
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The PGRs of the School of Geography, Geology and the Environment, have drafted an open letter to the senior leadership team at the University of Leicester, in response to their proposed merger with… |... The PGRs of the School of Geography, Geology and the Environment, have drafted an open letter to the senior leadership team at the University of Leicester, in response to their proposed merger with th...

[3/3]... them through this difficult time, beginning by addressing their open letter shorturl.at/df5kF

You can read more about the School’s plight here: geoscientist.online/sections/vie...

26.02.2026 14:35 👍 1 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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The PGRs of the School of Geography, Geology and the Environment, have drafted an open letter to the senior leadership team at the University of Leicester, in response to their proposed merger with… |... The PGRs of the School of Geography, Geology and the Environment, have drafted an open letter to the senior leadership team at the University of Leicester, in response to their proposed merger with th...

[2/3]
Despite the long and celebrated research record of palaeontology at Leicester, the School of GGE is being affected by significant redundancies. What this means for PGRs is still uncertain, and we urge the University leadership to provide guidance and contingencies to help support (continue)

26.02.2026 14:33 👍 1 🔁 1 💬 1 📌 0
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The Palaeontological Association has written to the President of the University of Leicester, requesting that the concerns of the PhD community over the planned redundancy of their supervisors are addressed.
[1/3]

26.02.2026 14:32 👍 10 🔁 6 💬 2 📌 0
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🔍 Discover the world of ancient life with The Palaeontological Association (PalAss)! 🦕
Dive into cutting-edge research, events, resources, and more.

🌐 Learn more here: palass.org

📲 Join us on social media to stay connected and inspired!
#palaeontology #follow #fossil #PalAss #socialmedia
#science

18.02.2026 11:24 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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⚠️ I am very happy to be part of the organising team and to invite you to join our WG1 online Training School under the SaltAges COST Action 🌊

Registration⬇️
🔗https://sites.google.com/view/saltages/home/training-schools/wg1-quantitative-and-hierarchical-methods-in-biogeosciences?authuser=0

#SaltAges

17.02.2026 21:17 👍 6 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
Top left: Map of Chile and Argentina with the study location indicated in red. Top right: two thin section photographs showing internal structures within new wood species Sahnioxylon chubutensis (MPEF-Pb 13152): on the left a general view of the pith and primary and secondary xylem (scale bar 500 microns); on the right tracheids with scalariform and araucarian pits (scale bar 100 microns). At the bottom, a photograph showing two growth rings within Sahnioxylon and plots to the right showing cumulative sum of deviation from the mean radial tracheid diameter for those rings. On the plots, the proportions of earlywood and latewood correspond to yellow and red shaded areas respectively. Bottom right corner: cover image for journal Papers in Palaeontology.

Top left: Map of Chile and Argentina with the study location indicated in red. Top right: two thin section photographs showing internal structures within new wood species Sahnioxylon chubutensis (MPEF-Pb 13152): on the left a general view of the pith and primary and secondary xylem (scale bar 500 microns); on the right tracheids with scalariform and araucarian pits (scale bar 100 microns). At the bottom, a photograph showing two growth rings within Sahnioxylon and plots to the right showing cumulative sum of deviation from the mean radial tracheid diameter for those rings. On the plots, the proportions of earlywood and latewood correspond to yellow and red shaded areas respectively. Bottom right corner: cover image for journal Papers in Palaeontology.

First record of Sahnioxylon from South America onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... #PapersinPalaeontology

17.02.2026 16:05 👍 8 🔁 5 💬 0 📌 1
Top right: map showing the geographical location of the study area, Kunming in Yunnan Province, China. Main image: photograph of curled fossil specimen YKLP11520, named Guanduscolex hexagonus.Image shows the complete body, scale bar at lower right is 2 mm. Inset at top right is a black and white backscatter image of the plates in the area outlined in white on the main image, showing that the plates are roughly hexagonal and typically surrounded by six other plates. Scale bar in bottom right corner is 200 microns.

Top right: map showing the geographical location of the study area, Kunming in Yunnan Province, China. Main image: photograph of curled fossil specimen YKLP11520, named Guanduscolex hexagonus.Image shows the complete body, scale bar at lower right is 2 mm. Inset at top right is a black and white backscatter image of the plates in the area outlined in white on the main image, showing that the plates are roughly hexagonal and typically surrounded by six other plates. Scale bar in bottom right corner is 200 microns.

Palaeoscolecids from the early Cambrian Guanshan biota, Yunnan Province, China onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... #PapersinPalaeontology #FossilFriday

13.02.2026 15:43 👍 12 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 0
Main image is a reconstruction of extinct fish Gondwanacanthus decollatus swimming in its natural environment. On the left are two photographs of fossil specimens: at the top, the holotype (MCP2457) which preserves vertebrae, ribs, rays and fines of the main body and tail; at the bottom, paratype MCP3458D, which preserves large spinoid scales in several rows, with the lateral line running horzontally across the centre. Small red image in lower right corner is the cover of Papers in Palaeontology, the journal in which the new species is described.

Main image is a reconstruction of extinct fish Gondwanacanthus decollatus swimming in its natural environment. On the left are two photographs of fossil specimens: at the top, the holotype (MCP2457) which preserves vertebrae, ribs, rays and fines of the main body and tail; at the bottom, paratype MCP3458D, which preserves large spinoid scales in several rows, with the lateral line running horzontally across the centre. Small red image in lower right corner is the cover of Papers in Palaeontology, the journal in which the new species is described.

The oldest acanthomorph fossil from the Early Cretaceous of Gondwana (Morro do Chaves Formation, Sergipe–Alagoas Basin, NE Brazil) onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... #PapersinPalaeontology

11.02.2026 16:04 👍 21 🔁 8 💬 0 📌 1
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🌍🔬 Calling all aspiring palaeontologists!
Here are 3 open PhD opportunities from across the palaeo world 🦖📚
Explore the projects, find deadlines, and start your research journey!

👉 More info on our official website:
palass.org/phd-opportun...
#PhD #opportunity #ApplyNow

11.02.2026 13:42 👍 5 🔁 5 💬 0 📌 1
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New in #PhilTransB - theme issue explores the #biosphere in the #Anthropocene. All #OA. Read: royalsocietypublishing.org/rstb/issue/3...

27.01.2026 20:45 👍 20 🔁 12 💬 1 📌 0
Inset top right: Map of Iran and surrounding araea showing the location of the Binalud Mountains study area with a red dot on the right hand side. Main image: Schematic reconstruction of the major continental and marine changes in the Upper Jurassic interval discussed in this study, in the Binalud Mountains.Top plot shows the environment in the Kimmeridgian to Tithonian interval; lower plot shows the late Oxfordian, when sea level was higher and the study area was further offshore. Circles in the top left of each plot indicate the dinoflagellate cyst components identified.

Inset top right: Map of Iran and surrounding araea showing the location of the Binalud Mountains study area with a red dot on the right hand side. Main image: Schematic reconstruction of the major continental and marine changes in the Upper Jurassic interval discussed in this study, in the Binalud Mountains.Top plot shows the environment in the Kimmeridgian to Tithonian interval; lower plot shows the late Oxfordian, when sea level was higher and the study area was further offshore. Circles in the top left of each plot indicate the dinoflagellate cyst components identified.

Palynological response to the Late Jurassic palaeoclimate & sealevel variations in the western Tethys (Binalud Mountains, NE Iran) onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... #FossilFriday #PapersinPalaeontology

06.02.2026 17:01 👍 7 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 1
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✨ Calling all PalAss members & future members! ✨

👉 Explore all opportunities here: palass.org/awards-grant...

Not a PalAss member yet? You’re very welcome to join us!
🔗 palass.org/membership

Please share with colleagues and students who might benefit 💬✨

#PalAss #grant #palaeontology #join

04.02.2026 14:43 👍 13 🔁 10 💬 1 📌 0
Top left: map of the study area - south-west Peary Land, with the Fimbuldal locality indicated by an arrow near the centre. Map of Greenland shown in black at lower right, with an arrow indicating the approximate location. Bottom: scanning electron micrograph of a sclerite bearing vesicular microfossils of possible fungus or bacterium Avannacystis polaris. A white arrow near the top indicates a slightly embedded specimen, and a white arrowhead at bottom left shows a specimen with invagination, a feature that has been interpreted as indicating a biological origin for these protuberances. Scale bar at lower right is 100 microns.

Top left: map of the study area - south-west Peary Land, with the Fimbuldal locality indicated by an arrow near the centre. Map of Greenland shown in black at lower right, with an arrow indicating the approximate location. Bottom: scanning electron micrograph of a sclerite bearing vesicular microfossils of possible fungus or bacterium Avannacystis polaris. A white arrow near the top indicates a slightly embedded specimen, and a white arrowhead at bottom left shows a specimen with invagination, a feature that has been interpreted as indicating a biological origin for these protuberances. Scale bar at lower right is 100 microns.

Vesicular microfossils on middle Cambrian shells: insights into early substrate colonization in North Greenland (Laurentia) onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

04.02.2026 10:50 👍 7 🔁 4 💬 0 📌 0
3D computer reconstruction and line diagrams of Foskeia pelendonum, a new rhabdodontomorph dinosaur from Spain. Top left and bottom right: views of the 3D model taken from different angles (lateral and turned towards the viewer, respectively). Bottom left: line drawings of an early juvenile (top left) and late stage subadult (bottom right) specimen, showing the elements that are preserved (in some cases scaled from different sized specimens); there is a key at the bottom which indicates scaled elements.

3D computer reconstruction and line diagrams of Foskeia pelendonum, a new rhabdodontomorph dinosaur from Spain. Top left and bottom right: views of the 3D model taken from different angles (lateral and turned towards the viewer, respectively). Bottom left: line drawings of an early juvenile (top left) and late stage subadult (bottom right) specimen, showing the elements that are preserved (in some cases scaled from different sized specimens); there is a key at the bottom which indicates scaled elements.

Foskeia pelendonum, a new rhabdodontomorph from the Lower Cretaceous of Spain & a new phylogeny of ornithischian dinosaurs onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... #PapersinPalaeontology

03.02.2026 18:20 👍 7 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Top right: a simplified geological map of Gutland (central and southern Luxembourg). Main image: photograph of a sample of the Luxembourg Sandstone Formation from the Schlotheimia angulata Zone of Brouch (Mersch, Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg) showing the surface of the upper coquina bed; scale bar is 50 mm.

Top right: a simplified geological map of Gutland (central and southern Luxembourg). Main image: photograph of a sample of the Luxembourg Sandstone Formation from the Schlotheimia angulata Zone of Brouch (Mersch, Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg) showing the surface of the upper coquina bed; scale bar is 50 mm.

Caenogastropods & heterobranch gastropods from the Hettangian deposits of Luxembourg: palaeobiogeography & Early Jurassic faunal recovery in the western Tethys onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... #FossilFriday

30.01.2026 17:39 👍 12 🔁 4 💬 0 📌 1
Composite image showing fossil specimens, including 3D renders, a map of France (top right) with a red star showing the fossil locality, and the red cover of Papers in Palaeontology (top left). Fossils depicted are: at top left, dorsal vertebra of Herensugea sp. in right lateral view (scale bar on lower left is 1 mm); lower left, atlantes of an unidentified batrachosauroidid species in ventral view (scale bar at lower right is 1 mm); on the right a fossil dentary of an unidentified Iguanamorpha species in labial view with the fossi specimen above and a 3D reconstruction below (scale at the bottom is 5 mm).

Composite image showing fossil specimens, including 3D renders, a map of France (top right) with a red star showing the fossil locality, and the red cover of Papers in Palaeontology (top left). Fossils depicted are: at top left, dorsal vertebra of Herensugea sp. in right lateral view (scale bar on lower left is 1 mm); lower left, atlantes of an unidentified batrachosauroidid species in ventral view (scale bar at lower right is 1 mm); on the right a fossil dentary of an unidentified Iguanamorpha species in labial view with the fossi specimen above and a 3D reconstruction below (scale at the bottom is 5 mm).

Freshwater amphibians & squamates from Villeveyrac (Hérault, France): palaeodiversity, palaeoenvironment & implications for the Late Cretaceous palaeobiogeography of the European herpetofauna onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... #PapersinPalaeontology

28.01.2026 17:09 👍 14 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
Photographs of palynomorphs and other fossil fragments extracted from sediments of the Lower Devonian Strathpeffer-Struie sequence from the Northern Highlands of Scotland. Clockwise from top: Emphanisporites foveolatus and an un-named sphaeromorph from the Moy Formation (scale bar 20 microns); Cymbosporites, Latosporites (in the centre of the image) and Diboliporites eifeliensis from the Moy Formation (scale bar 20 microns); a scorpion pectinal tooth (larger image at bottom right; scale bar 150 microns); Prototaxites sp and an un-named banded tube (scale bar 120 microns); and a bundle of filaments (scale bar 60 microns). The red rectangle in the upper right corner is a cover image for the journal Papers in Palaeontology.

Photographs of palynomorphs and other fossil fragments extracted from sediments of the Lower Devonian Strathpeffer-Struie sequence from the Northern Highlands of Scotland. Clockwise from top: Emphanisporites foveolatus and an un-named sphaeromorph from the Moy Formation (scale bar 20 microns); Cymbosporites, Latosporites (in the centre of the image) and Diboliporites eifeliensis from the Moy Formation (scale bar 20 microns); a scorpion pectinal tooth (larger image at bottom right; scale bar 150 microns); Prototaxites sp and an un-named banded tube (scale bar 120 microns); and a bundle of filaments (scale bar 60 microns). The red rectangle in the upper right corner is a cover image for the journal Papers in Palaeontology.

Unusual biota and palynofacies of a Lower Devonian intermontane basin saline lake–playa mudflat ecosystem onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... #PapersinPalaeontology

28.01.2026 11:31 👍 8 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
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⚠️The 23rd EAVP is coming in 5️⃣ months to 🇱🇹 #Vilnius ✨🤓
Don’t forget to register ⬇️
eavp2026.weebly.com/registration...

#conference #paleontology #Lithuania

26.01.2026 21:50 👍 3 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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⚠️After a fantastic 69th PalAss meeting in Portsmouth, we’re thrilled to announce what’s next! 🎉✨

📅 The 70th Annual Meeting
📍 Oxford 🏛️
🗓 8–11 December 2026 

📌 Mark your calendars, spread the word, and keep an eye out 👀 — more details coming soon! 🚀

#PalAss26 #oxford #conference

26.01.2026 20:17 👍 12 🔁 4 💬 0 📌 0
Top left: photograph of a grey slab containing multiple fossils, with vertebral columns clearly running vertically (SAM-Pk-K7710). This is a group of six Scyllacerta creanae individuals, including the holotype, a late Permian neodiapsid reptile from South Africa (scale bar at top right is 2 cm). Bottom right: a computer reconstruction of the skull based on three of the individuals in the fossil block. Scale bar at top right is 5 mm.

Top left: photograph of a grey slab containing multiple fossils, with vertebral columns clearly running vertically (SAM-Pk-K7710). This is a group of six Scyllacerta creanae individuals, including the holotype, a late Permian neodiapsid reptile from South Africa (scale bar at top right is 2 cm). Bottom right: a computer reconstruction of the skull based on three of the individuals in the fossil block. Scale bar at top right is 5 mm.

The origin of the tympanic fossa in reptiles revealed by a late Permian neodiapsid: new species Scyllacerta creanae onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... #FossilFriday @semifossorial.bsky.social @morphobank.bsky.social

23.01.2026 13:08 👍 31 🔁 13 💬 0 📌 0
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Formation, preservation & interpretation of dinosaur tracks onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

22.01.2026 13:35 👍 24 🔁 7 💬 0 📌 1
Lithocolumn and the carbon isotope excursion curve showing the phases of the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), the baseline (initial recovery) and the PPP (pre PETM phase). Depths of samples collected of the four species shown in the middle and interquartile ranges of the cell lengths of Sporolithon aschersonii and Lithothamnion roveretoi on the right. On the far right are two images of sections of fossil coralline algae Sporolithon aschersonii (top) and Lithothamnion rovertoi (bottom). Scale bars at lower right of each image are 1 mm.

Lithocolumn and the carbon isotope excursion curve showing the phases of the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), the baseline (initial recovery) and the PPP (pre PETM phase). Depths of samples collected of the four species shown in the middle and interquartile ranges of the cell lengths of Sporolithon aschersonii and Lithothamnion roveretoi on the right. On the far right are two images of sections of fossil coralline algae Sporolithon aschersonii (top) and Lithothamnion rovertoi (bottom). Scale bars at lower right of each image are 1 mm.

Exploring structural integrity of coralline algae in response to the environmental changes associated with the PETM: a tale of functional resistance onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

22.01.2026 13:20 👍 4 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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🎉✨ The PalAss is BACK after winter break! ✨🎉

And we’re coming back with amazing news 👀👇

🌍✈️ Next ProgPal is heading to London!
📅 22–25 June 2026

💡Get ready for inspiring sessions, great talks, and posters 🇬🇧
⚠️Stay tuned — more details coming soon! 🚀🔥

#conference

22.01.2026 12:32 👍 12 🔁 9 💬 0 📌 0
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Happy to be at the University of Turin continuing our work on coccoliths from Italian samples with Francesca Lozar 🤓🔬
Looking forward to great discussions and exciting results! 🎊🇮🇹
#Italy #paleontology #nanofossils

22.01.2026 11:05 👍 5 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
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📣 Announcement | 6th VCWAP – Scientific Sessions 🧪🦴
👉 Don’t forget to register to participate online and be part of this amazing scientific exchange:
🔗 framaforms.org/virtual-conf...
💜 We can’t wait to see you there!

#conference #paleontology #archaeology #online #science

21.01.2026 13:23 👍 6 🔁 5 💬 0 📌 0