The aim is to reunite aspiring palaeoecologists at different levels in their career with professionlal palaeoecologists to adquire training in palaeoecology and palynology as well as its applications in environmental management and policy making. This conference is particularly directed to women and people from previously disadvantaged backgrounds. This relates to the following Sustainable Development Goals:

SDG 4, 5, 10 – By tailoring this conference for and providing high-quality, individualised (SDG4) professional training to women (SDG5), from previously disadvantaged backgrounds (SDG10) with the support of Nelson Mandela University (South Africa) we aspire to redress privilege and promote diversity and inclusivity od science.

SDG 13, 14, 15 – Palaeoecology explores the evolution of landscapes through time, with palynology (the study of fossil pollen grains) being one of its main sources of information. In the same way that doctors reconstruct medical histories, palaeoecologists asses the impact of the past disturbances in ecosystems and incorporate this information into environmental management to address and mitigate the impact of climate change (SDG13) on terrestrial (SDG15) and aquatic (SDG14) life.

Palaeoecology of Africa

Palynology of the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa

Quantitative analysis of Palaeodata series

Career Orientation

Sunday 10th July

Reception of participants in the Adolfo Suárez Airport

 19.00 Informal Ice-Breaker

Monday 11th July

10.00 Plenary Talk- Lynne Quick (Nelson Mandela University, South Africa)

10.45 Workshop Session: Pollen preparation protocols. Demonstration of Acetolysis and practice.

14.00 Lunch Break- Lunch with participants

15.00 Plenary Talk- Lourdes López Merino (Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain)

15.45- 18.00 Workshop Session: Basic pollen and spore morphology.

Tuesday 12th July

10.00 Plenary Talk Graciela Gil Romera (Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología, Spain)

10.45  Lab Workshop Session: Pollen identification 1: Monoporate and monocolpate

14.00 Lunch Break- Lunch with participants

15.00 Workshop Session

15.45- 18.00 Workshop Session: Pollen identification 2: Di and Triaperturate pollen grains

Wednesday 13th July

8.00 – 20.00 Visit to Scientific Services and Facilities of the University of Leon

Thursday 14th July

10.00 Plenary Talk- Saúl Manzano (University of León, Spain)

10.45 Lab Workshop Session: Lab safety, particularities of palynological work, waste treatment and disposal.

14.00 Lunch Break- Lunch with participants

15.00 Workshop Session

15.45- 18.00 Workshop Session Pollen identification 3: Tricolporate pollen grains

Friday 15th July

10.00 Student Presentations

12.00-14.00 Round Table: Diversity in Science, non-normative career paths (Chairs: Dr. Lynne J Quick, Dr. Saúl Manzano, Universidad de León)

14.00 Lunch Break- Lunch with participants

Saturday 16th July

Farewell and Departure from León.

Quaternary Palynology Lab, Institute for the Enviroment, Natural Resources and Biodiversity (University of León, Spain)

Botany Section, Dept. Biodiversity and Enviromental Management (University of León, Spain)

Botany Department (Nelson Mandela University, South Africa)