European Palaeobotanical and Palynological Conference in Münster
European Palaeobotanical and Palynological Conference in Münster
Zbyněk Šimůnek
The European Palaeobotanical and Palynological Conference (EPPC), held in Münster, Germany, from 20 to 25 September 2026, concluded on 25 September. The conference takes place every four years, with this year's event marking its 12th edition.
The conference covered virtually every aspect of fossil plants and palynomorphs, from the Early Palaeozoic to the present day, including their systematics, palaeoecology and stratigraphy. Many presentations explored how plants responded to global crises in the geological past and how these findings can be compared with present-day conditions. Research methods included geochemical techniques and analyses of fossil plants.
Other presentations focused on scientific and artistic reconstructions of fossil plants and assessments of the climatic conditions in which they grew. Attention was also given to plant–insect interactions, ranging from evidence of insect feeding on leaves to plant defence mechanisms. One of the most interesting presentations examined evidence of insect pollination dating back 56 million years.
The conference brought together 244 specialists from 30 countries. Most of the participans came from Germany and China. The most distant participants arrived e.g. from Australia and Japan. Presentations covered geological periods from the Early Palaeozoic to the Quaternary, as well as research methods and other related topics. The extensive programme also featured more than 40 thematic posters.
The Czech Geological Survey was represented by Zbyněk Šimůnek. The next EPPC will take place in Paris in 2030.
