Aretz et al_2011.pdf - ORBi - Université de Liège

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Kölner Forum Geol. Paläont., 19 (2011)
M. ARETZ, S. DELCULÉE, J. DENAYER & E. POTY (Eds.)
Abstracts, 11th Symposium on Fossil Cnidaria and Sponges, Liège, August 19-29, 2011
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Preface
We cordially welcome you, some hundred participants from 25 countries around the globe to the 11 th
Symposium on Fossil Cnidaria and Porifera in Liège, 19-29. August 2011!
The symposium in Liège is the 11 th symposium of the International Association for the Study of Fossil
Cnidaria and Porifera and for the second time the association holds its symposium in a French-speaking
country. The symposium takes up the roots laid by the first symposium at Novosibirsk in 1971 and
followed by nine very successful symposia. Many of us attended already the last symposia at Graz 2003
(HUBMANN & PILLER 2007) and St. Petersburg 2007 (KOSSOVAYA & SOMERVILLE 2010), but we see also the
constant entry of new young scientists in our field. This and the high quality of the scientific contributions
presented during this symposium are encouraging signs for the future of our association. Even in times
when palaeontological research, including our favourite groups Cnidaria and Porifera, faces some
problems in being recognized and getting funding, the community remains very active and besides more
traditional aspects of our work and research the constant input of new ideas, themes and techniques
confirms the vivacity of our scientific community.
Thus the symposium at Liège provides young scientists and established colleagues the opportunity to
experience state of the art results on fossil Cnidaria and Porifera during the 5 day indoor-meeting at the
Institute of Zoology. These days a flanked by field trips to the Devonian and Carboniferous strata in
Belgium and neighbouring Northern France (ARETZ & POTY 2011).
During this years symposium we would also like to remember in a special session those colleagues who
passed away in the last decades, but have deeply influenced our science and association. This session is due
to an initative from several members of the association. The organising committee would like to take up
this initative and propose that in the future IASFCP awards at every symposium a medal to one association
member who has made outstanding contributions to our field of research.
We would also like to use this opportunity to acknowledge the support and help of the University of
Liège, the Fond national de Recherche scientifique, Carmeuse S.A., the Ville de Liège, the field trip leaders,
and last but not least the members and students of the “Department de Géologie” helping on and behind
the scenes.
We hope that the 11 th Symposium on Fossil Cnidaria and Porifera becomes a successful and enjoyable
meeting providing you with new insights, ideas and friends. We wish you pleasant days!
Markus Aretz, Sandrine Delculée, Julien Denayer, Luc Hance, Yves Quinif & Edouard Poty
Liège, August 2011
ARETZ, M. & POTY, E. (2011) (Eds.): 11 th Symposium of the International Association for the Study of Fossil Cnidaria and
Porifera: Field guides. – Kölner Forum für Geologie und Paläontologie, 20.
HUBMANN, B. & PILLER, W.E. (2007) (Eds.): Fossil Corals and Sponges, Proceedings of the 9th International Symposium
on Fossil Cnidaria and Porifera, Graz, 2003. - Austrian Academy of Sciences, Schriftenreihe der
Erdwissenschaftlichen Kommissionen, 17.
KOSSOVAYA, O. & SOMERVILLE, I. (2010) (Eds.): Proceedings of the 10th International Symposium on Fossil Cnidaria and
Porifera, August 12–16, 2007 Saint-Petersburg, Russia. - Palaeoworld, 19 (3/4).
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