Workshops
The workshops are provided for free, but places will only be available to Association members. Places on each workshop will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis at the time of online registration.
Applications of biostratigraphy through the energy transition
Convenors: Paul Cornick (Petrostrat)
Date: Friday 12th December 2025
Duration: 10:30-12:30
Maximum capacity: 20 participants
Biostratigraphy has long been a tool associated with the oil and gas (O&G) industry, helping explorationists and field developers to better understand the subsurface, reducing risk and increasing drilling success. With the energy transition and an anticipated gradual reduction in exploration activity (especially for oil) the demand for biostratigraphy in O&G will likely decline. However, good stratigraphy is fundamental to good geoscience and the traditional workflows involved in reducing subsurface risk, including those linked to biostratigraphy, will be applicable through the energy transition, not least as carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) becomes a major component of tackling climate change.
Building models for stratigraphic palaeobiology in R
Convenors: Niklas Hohmann (Utrecht), Dr. Emilia Jarochowska (Utrecht), Dr. Xianyi Liu (Utrecht)
Date: Friday 12th December 2025
Duration: 9:00-12:30
Maximum capacity: 21 participants
The fossil record is a joint expression of biological and geological processes. The record of biological events, such as extinction, migration, and speciation, can be distorted by stratigraphic architectures. The core idea of stratigraphic palaeobiology is to incorporate knowledge about geological processes shaping these architectures into palaeontological analyses to account for stratigraphic biases. Forward modelling is a way to predict and explore how a given geological section, with its gaps and changes in sedimentation rates, will record a hypothetical biological event. It is a powerful tool to formulate hypotheses about evolutionary dynamics in the fossil record.
In this workshop, participants will be provided with an introduction to forward modelling in stratigraphic palaeobiology using the StratPal and admtools packages for R Software. Demonstration will be provided on how to develop a modelling workflow that links evolutionary and ecological models (e.g., niche models, trait evolution, phylogenetics) with outputs from sedimentary forward models (e.g. CarboKitten.jl, CarboCAT, SedFlux). At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to develop their own simulation study that examines how stratigraphic architectures affect palaeobiological interpretations from geological successions.
Participants should have their own laptop that can run R Studio. Participants should be familiar with the contents of this software carpentry course on programming and be able to install and load packages and define functions. For participants not familiar with the R Software, introductory materials and installation instructions will be provided ahead of time.
Capacity Building in Palaeontology - an African perspective to a global challenge
Convenor: Dr. Nizar Ibrahim (Portsmouth)
Date: Friday 12th December 2025
Duration: 9:00-12:30
Maximum capacity: 30 participants
The transitioning from a (neo) colonial world to one of modern collaborations "at eye level" has been rather slow in palaeontology. Recent publications suggest that "parachute science" is still relatively widespread and that far more needs to be done to encourage capacity building in palaeontology - this includes establishing new collections, training students and museum specialists, improving laboratory and storage spaces and other types of infrastructure in developing nations. The reality of capacity building is often far more nuanced and complex than some opinions and even publications suggest: corruption, poor storage of fossils, and confusing local legal landscapes are some of the challenges researchers face. This workshop will commence with a presentation on the current state of research and capacity building in palaeontology, with a focus on Africa. This will then be followed by group discussions on pertinent topics (grants for capacity building, the fossil trade), then a presentation giving participants a first-hand account of working in the field of palaeontology in Africa, and a final panel discussion featuring a range of views as well as ideas articulated in the workshop.
Introduction to digital data capturing
Convenors: Dr. Charles Wood (Portsmouth), Dr. Roy Smith (Portsmouth), Stella Ludwig (Portsmouth)
Date: Friday 12th December 2025
Duration: 9:00-12:30
Maximum capacity: 20 participants
Digital data capturing technologies such as X-ray computed tomography (CT) and photogrammetry have become an integral part of modern palaeontology. These imaging methods allow for the construction of three-dimensional digital visualisations that are indispensable tools for the non-destructive study of internal structures and surface topography of fossil specimens. High-resolution digital models are useful for restoring damaged or deformed specimens to their original shape and open-up new avenues for investigating a wide range of biomechanical questions. Analytical applications and techniques that require digital models include Finite Element Analysis (FEA), Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), and Multibody Dynamics Analysis (MDA). Digital representations of fossil specimens also allow for fast and efficient data sharing, facilitating the dissemination of findings for research, teaching, and outreach purposes.
This workshop will explore the various tomographic and surfaced-based imaging technologies that are available to researchers, and their areas of application in virtual palaeontology. Participants will be guided through the process of using photogrammetry and the software Agisoft Metashape to create their own high-resolution 3D model of a physical specimen. No prior experience is required for this workshop. Participants are requested to bring their own laptop and camera (any camera including phone cameras will work). Participants will need to download Agisoft Metashape prior to the workshop. This software comes with a 30-day free trial, so it should not result in any cost to participants.