The symposium was sponsored by the Palaeontological Society of China, the China Fossil Preservation Foundation, the International Organisation of Palaeobotany (IOP), and the International Association of Wood Anatomists (IAWA). It was co-hosted by the Chengdu Natural History Museum & Museum of Chengdu University of Technology, the Chongzhou Tianyan Museum, the 11th Geological Brigade of Sichuan Province, and the Liaoning Palaeontological Museum. IAWA delivered an official letter of congratulations to address the ceremony.
Group photo of the symposium participants in front of Chengdu
Natural History Museum & The Museum of Chengdu University of Technology
Additional co-organizers included the Shehong Municipal Bureau of Natural Resources and Planning, the Administrative Committee of Shehong Poetry & Wine Cultural Tourism Park, the Shehong Petrified Forest National Geopark, and the Zigong Dinosaur Museum. Support was also extended by the Shenzhen Palaeontological Museum, the Beijing Yicai Institute of Natural Science and Technology, and the Liaoning Chaoyang Fossil Valley.
The symposium brought together more than 100 participants - including 25 international delegates from universities, museums, and research institutions across Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Asia. Delegates represented 15 countries: Cambodia, China, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Japan, Nepal, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam. The scope of the symposium encompassed a wide range of topics related to fossil wood, spanning scientific research, science communication and education, museum exhibition, geological heritage and fossil site management, geopark development, and cultural tourism.
Post-symposium excursion to visit the Shehong Petrified Forest National Geopark
The three-day program featured 37 oral presentations, including 8 plenary talks, 10 keynote talks, and 19 invited talks, alongside 10 poster presentations. A total of 46 abstracts were submitted, highlighting cutting-edge research and best practices in the field.
During the symposium, participants visited the Chongzhou Tianyan Museum in Chengdu and took part in the "Tianyan Museum Night" themed event, where they explored the museum's collections, fossil conservation laboratories, and exhibitions.
A post-symposium field excursion was held from November 26 to 29 in Shehong and Zigong, both in Sichuan Province. Nearly 30 Chinese and international participants from 15 countries joined the trip, visiting the Shehong Petrified Forest National Geopark, the Wangjiagou Fossil Wood Site Museum, the Zigong Dinosaur Museum, the Changling Petrified Wood Site Museum, and the Zigong UNESCO Global Geopark.
Post-symposium visit to the Jurassic fossil wood locality in Zigong UNESCO Global Geopark
Throughout the excursion, participants expressed profound admiration for the outstanding achievements made by Shehong and Zigong in the protection and study of palaeontological fossils, exhibition and display, geopark construction, and the development of geoscience-related cultural tourism. They also conveyed a strong interest in enhancing international cooperation to advance the development of palaeontological museums, geoparks, and geotourism around the world.
As a precious geological heritage, fossil wood preserves invaluable information on palaeoclimatic evolution, palaeoecological changes, and palaeogeographic shifts, serving as a "living archive" for understanding Earth's history and environmental dynamics. The in-depth study, effective protection, and sustainable use of fossil wood are essential to promoting public geoscience education and cultural tourism, requiring long-term, collaborative efforts from the global academic community. This symposium not only enhanced participants' understanding of the scientific significance of fossil wood but also fostered a shared international commitment to advancing its protection, research, and utilization.
Yongdong Wang and Tao Su, China, and Nareerat Boonchai, USA
