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12th National Congress and 29th Academic Conference of PSC were successfully held in Zhengzhou, Hena

Time:2018-11-01


The 12th National Congress and the 29th Academic Conference of the Paleontological Society of Chinese (PSC) were successfully held in Zhengzhou City, Henan Province on September 17-19, 2018. About 750 people who are experts and scholars from 190 organizations (including those in Taiwan) of national research institutes, universities, museums, fossil protection organizations, popular science bases, publishers of cultural and creative industries, geological parks, and geological, petroleum, coal and other systems, as well as foreign experts from Japan, Britain, Poland, Russia, Austria, etc., attended the conference.

The conference was hosted by PSC, jointly organized by the Geological Museum of Henan Province, the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Henan Polytechnic University, and the Henan Provincial Paleontological Society, and strongly supported by the China Association for Science and Technology, the National Paleontological Fossil Expert Committee, the China Paleontology Fossil Conservation Foundation, the Department of Earth Sciences of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Frontier Science and Education Bureau of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Henan Provincial Department of Land and Resources.

In the morning of September 17, the opening ceremony of the conference was held at the Yingbin Hotel of the Yellow River Henan. The leaders and the guests attending the opening ceremony are as follows: Yin Hongfu-Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Professor of China University of Geosciences (Wuhan); Shu Degan-Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Professor of Northwestern University; Wang Chengshan-Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Professor of China University of Geosciences (Beijing); Tang Kunlun- deputy director of the academic department of the Chinese Association of Science and Technology; Wang Lixia-deputy director of the Office of the National Paleontological Fossil Expert Committee; Tao Qingfa-chairman of the Chinese Paleontological Fossil Conservation Foundation; Yang Shihai-deputy director of the Department of Land and Resources of Henan Province; Chen Ping-deputy inspector of the Henan Association of Science and Technology; Zhan Renbin-secretary general of the International Paleontological Society (IPA); Representative of the Japanese Paleontological Society: Professor Kazuyoshi Endo of the Tokyo University, Professor Takao Ubukata of the Kyoto University; as well as Yang Qun-Chairman of PSC; Zhu Huaicheng-Secretary of the Party Committee; Vice Chairman Sun Ge, Deng Tao, Yao Jianxin and Secretary General Wang Yongdong; as well as members of the Board of PSC, heads of each branch, special invited speakers of the conference, domestic and foreign guests, leaders of the conference organizers, PSC member representatives, news media etc.

The opening ceremony was presided over by Vice Chairman Sun Ge. Chairman Yang Qun delivered an opening speech. On behalf of the PSC Council, he extended a warm welcome to delegates from domestic and abroad. In his speech, he summed up the main progress and achievements of the paleontology in China in the past five years, and wished to advance the science of paleontology and progress the work of PSC, which would lead to more brilliant achievements. Deputy Director Tang Kunlun expressed warm congratulations on behalf of the China Association for Science and Technology and read a congratulatory letter from the China Association for Science and Technology. Academician Yin Hongfu spoke with great passion. Wang Lixia, Yang Shihai and Chen Ping respectively delivered speeches on behalf of the National Paleontological Fossil Expert Committee Office, Henan Provincial Department of Land and Resources and Henan Science and Technology Association. Zhan Renbin delivered a speech on behalf of the International Paleontological Society (IPA) and read a congratulatory letter from IPA President Sylvie Crasquen. Professor Joachim Reitner, President of the German Paleontological Society, also sent a warm congratulatory letter and expressed his warm congratulations on the convening of the conference. Mr. Kazuyoshi Endo, a representative of the Japanese Paleontological Society and a professor at the University of Tokyo, gave a speech and congratulated the convening of the academic conference.

Three awards given by PSC – the 8th Yin Zanxun Prizes of Stratigraphy and Palaeontology, the 4th Young Scientist Awards on Palaeontology, and the 2017 Top Ten Paleontological Progress in China were awarded at the opening ceremony. Four experts, Wang Xiangdong, Deng Tao, Ji Shuan and Deng Shenghui, won the 8th Yin Zanxun Prizes of Stratigraphy and Palaeontology. Four young scholars, Wang Min, Feng Zhuo, Pan Yanhong and Luo Genming, won the 4th Young Scientist Awards on Palaeontology. The national science foundation awarding ceremony was also held during the conference. Beijing Yanqing Geological Museum, Yunnan Lufeng Dinosaur Science Education Base, Chongqing Qijiang National Geological Park Museum, Liaoning Chaoyang Fossil Valley, Dalian Xinghai Paleontology Fossil Museum and Sichuan Chongzhou Tianyan Museum were titled as the National Science Foundation of PSC.

The conference carried out a series of rich and extensive academic exchange activities around the theme of “New Age Paleontology – Interdisciplinary and Technological Innovation”. Eight experts and scholars from domestic and abroad – Academician Shu Degan, Academician Wang Chengshan, Japanese scholar Takao Ubukata, as well as Prof. Zhan Renbin, Prof. Zhang Shuichang, Prof. Ji Shu’an, Prof. Wu Xiujie and Prof. Xu Li, made the special invited conference reports, involving latest achievements on human origin, deep climate, macro-evolution of invertebrates, Ordovician radiation, Proterozoic ecology and oil and gas resources, Psittacosaurus fauna, new discoveries on ancient human in China, and new advances on the paleontological research in Henan, all of which reflected the interdisciplinary importance and the technological innovation. The conference comprised of 34 academic sessions, received 422 abstracts , and organized 72 keynote reports, 320 oral presentations, and 42 posters, discussing multiple subjects such as ancient invertebrate zoology, micropalaeontology, palaeobotany and palynology, vertebrate palaeontology, paleoanthropology, stratigraphy, biogeography and paleoclimatology, molecular paleontology, geobiology, sedimentology and geochemistry, and etc.. The conference sessions included early life evolution, Cambrian explosion, Cambrian-specific fossils, paleobiodiversity evolution and environment, the Jehol and the Yanliao biota, integrated stratigraphy, geobiodiversity database, microbial sediments and reefs, micropaleontology and application, palaeobotany and evolution, geobiology, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau stratigraphy and palaeontology, as well as other forums of technologies and methods of palaeontology research, fossil protection research forums, museums and popular science education, paleontology teaching and talent training, palaeontology and fossils, innovation and development of geoparks and other topics. It has been the most high-standard conference with the largest number of participants, the most active academic exchanges, and the widest range of seminars since the establishment of PSC in 1929. It is not only a concentrated display and review of the palaeontological achievements nation-wide, but also a comprehensive prospect of the future of the paleontology in China – to meet the important event of the 90th anniversary of PSC since its establishment (2019).

The 12th National Congress of PSC was also held during the conference. Report on the work of the 11th Council, report on the election of the 12th Council and report on the financial work of the Society was debriefed. The Draft Revision of the Constitution of PSC and The Draft Revision of the Membership Fees of PSC were approved through the vote. The participants voted to elect the 12th Council and the 1st Board of Supervisors. At the 1st meeting of the 12th Council and the 1st meeting of the 1st Board of Supervisors, the members of the Standing Committee, the heads of the Council and the Board of Supervisors were elected. Zhan Renbin was elected as the President of the 12th Council; Deng Tao, Wang Yongdong, Yao Jianxin, Bai Zhiqiang and Hua Hong were elected as Vice President; Wang Yongdong was also designated as Secretary-General. Yang Qun was elected as the Chief Supervisor of the 1st Board of Supervisors and Sun Ge as deputy supervisor. This is a significant event in the PSC history of its development in the past 89 years. The new Council members and Supervisors provide a solid and perfect organizational guarantee for the further development of the Society.

Guarding ancient life - Overseas Fossil Exhibition and Press Conference was held during the conference as well. Wang Yongdong – Secretary-General of the Society; Wang Lixia – deputy director of the Office of the National Paleontological Fossil Expert Committee; Feng Jincheng-Director of the Department of Land and Resources, Henan Province; Xu Li-Director of the Henan Provincial Geological Museum introduced the significance of the conference and the special exhibition to the media, respectively. Academician Shu Deqian, deputy director Wang Lixia and Secretary-General of the International Paleontological Society Zhan Renbin jointly presided the unveiling ceremony of the special exhibition.

The Geoiology Branch of PSC was established and the president of its 1st council was elected during the conference. The decision on the establishment of the Fossil Protection Working Committee was discussed and adopted. The work conference for the preparation of the book series “Taxanomy of Palaeontology” was held. President Zhan Renbin delivered a speech on behalf of the new Council and spoke highly of the work of the 11th Council. He expressed the gratitude to the Council members and their organizations for their support, to the organizers of the conference, and raised the prospects for the work of the new Council at the closing ceremony of the conference on the afternoon of September 19. The Outstanding Presentation awarding ceremony was held, with the Student Awards for the Outstanding Oral Report given to 16 students and the Student Awards for the Outstanding Poster to 8 students. Finally, representatives from several organizations organized a farewell performance party for all the conference participants.

After the conference, four field trips were organized. About 150 participants attended the geological survey on paleontology and stratigraphy in Fuyang, Luanchuan, Nanyang, Dengfeng, Jiaozuo, Yiyang and Jiyuan in Henan Provence.

During the meeting, the conference activities were reported from multiple angles by Xinhua News Agency, People's Daily, China News Service, Science and Technology Daily, Chinese Journal of Science, China Natural Resources News, Henan Daily, Henan TV, Sina.com, Tencent.com, etc.

PSC Secretariat

September, 2018


Opening ceremony of conference main venue

Group photo



representatives in the main venue during the opening ceremony



representatives from domestic and abroad


President Yang Qun gave an opening speech



Academician Yin Hongfu delivered a speech at the opening ceremony


Speech by Zhan Renbin, Secretary-General of the International Paleontology Association



Academician Shu Degan made a special invited report



Academician Wang Chengshan made a special invitation report



Awarding ceremony of 8th Yin Zanxun Prizes of Stratigraphy and Palaeontology



Awarding ceremony of the 2017 Top 10 Paleontological Progress in China



Awarding ceremony of 4th Young Scientist Awards



Awarding ceremony for the National Science Education Foundation



1st meeting of 12th Council and 1st meeting of 1st Board of Supervisors


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