Details for the 2010 Flugsaurier meeting

UPDATE: 25/02/10. A while back, we posted an early version of the second circular for the 2010 Flugsaurier Meeting but, almost immediately, were told that a modified version would follow soon after. 'Soon after' means today, and what follows is the corrected version. The most important details - price, dates and deadlines - remain unchanged, but a few minor tweaks have been made here and there.

While the Pterosaur.net blog obviously is primarily set to cater for those with an interest in pterosaurs, rather than those dedicated to pterosaur research, it would be remiss to leave this out on the blog. There have been a number of pterosaur-dedicated meetings or seminars within meetings over the years, but only recently has this become more formal with a planned series or regular meetings devoted entirely to pterosaurs. The next scheduled one is however this summer in Beijing, and just out (literally, as of less than half an hour ago) is the second circular with all the details needed to sign up and attend.

This is of course a scientific meeting so don't think about coming unless you want to be immersed in the anatomical and systematic minutae of pterosaurs and lots of very techie details and arguments. If that is your bag however, all are of course welcome.

I’m sure I’ll see at least a few of you there. I have left out some details of the registration and payment methods etc. contact JC or Dave Unwin (or me I suppose, since I have a copy of the forms) for details. Everything else you need is below:

Flugsaurier 2010
Third International Symposium on Pterosaurs
5-10 August, 2010
Beijing, China
Second Circular

Pterosaurs are amongst the most fascinating and enigmatic of all extinct creatures. Thanks to some spectacular fossil finds in recent years our understanding of the palaeobiology and evolutionary history of these ‘flying reptiles’ has seen several dramatic advances. Some of the most important discoveries, including the first eggs with embryos, have been made in China where Late Jurassic/Early Cretaceous rocks are currently producing new species of pterosaurs at a faster rate than anywhere else in the world. In recognition of this, the Third International Symposium on Pterosaurs “Flugsaurier 2010” will be held in China in August 2010. This will be the third international pterosaur symposium and follows successful meetings held in France in 2001 and Germany in 2007.

The meeting will be organized mainly by the China Geological Survey,
sponsored by the Institute of Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, and co-sponsored by:
China Fossil Preservation Foundation,
China Dinosaur Park of Changzhou,
The Bureau of Fossil Protection, Liaoning Provincial Department of National Land Resources,
The Government of Beipiao City.

The meeting is planned for the 5th-10th August, 2010. Talks, posters, at least one open discussion session and (subject to availability) examination of specimens are planned for the first three days of the meeting. This will be followed by an optional three day field excursion to view exposures of the Jehol Group and exhibitions/collections of fossils from this sequence which has yielded more than 100 specimens of pterosaurs in the last 10 years. All those interested in pterosaurs and the communities and environments in which they lived are encouraged to attend.

1. Meeting aims:

As in previous symposia, this meeting is intended to cover all aspects of pterosaur palaeobiology and the world in which they live, including:
(a) The origin and evolution of pterosaurs
(b) Taxonomy, systematics and phylogeny
(c) Palaeobiology including anatomy, functional morphology and ontogeny
(d) Taphonomy, sedimentology and preservational environments
(e) Ecosystems and contemporaneous fauna and flora

2. Preliminary schedule:

August 5th
Up to 17:00 Registration (exact location will be given in the third Circular)
18:30-20:00 Reception (exact location will be given in the third Circular)
August 6th
09:00-9:40 Opening ceremony
10:00-12:00 Oral presentations
13:30-18:00 Oral presentations
August 7th
09:00-12:00 Oral presentations
13:30-18:00 Posters and specimen examination (or visit to Forbidden City/Summer Palace/Great Wall)
August 8th
09:00-1200 Oral presentations/open discussion
13:00 Leave for Liaoning. Arrive Beipiao early evening.
August 9th
08:00-12:00 Visiting exposures of the Jehol Group.
14:00-17:00 Visit to Sihetun Fossil Museum.
August 10th
08:00-11:00 Visit to Chaoyang Geopark
1200: Return to Beijing.
19:00-21:00 Farewell party.

Oral presentations will consist of key-note lectures (45 minutes) and talks (30 minutes). These times include at least 5 minutes for questions and discussion. Attendees can apply to deliver more than one talk and /or poster.

Posters:
There will be at least one poster session (Posters should be prepared so that they fit onto a board with maximum dimensions of 90 cm (height) X 120 cm (width).

3. Abstracts and Symposium Volumes

An abstract volume will be prepared for distribution at the meeting. The abstract submission deadline is March 31st, 2010. No abstracts will be accepted after this date. Abstracts of up to two printed pages (A4; all text: Arial; title: 14pt, all caps; authors: 14pt, bold; address: 12 pt, italics; text: 12 pt, single spaced) including figures and references if desired are preferred, but longer abstracts will be considered. Preferred formats are “Word” for text files and “JPG” for figures. A symposium volume is planned for publication in 2011 and will be open to both attendees and non-attendees, with preference given to the former. The deadline for manuscript submissions will be December 31st, 2010.

4. Registration

Registration fee is $450 US for professional participants, $200 US for students and accompanying persons. The registration fee covers all the costs of the meeting: registration, the fieldtrip, accommodation for the duration of the meeting (including the fieldtrip) and all meals.

Please send payment to (Before the end of June)：
Institute of Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences
Bank name: BAIWANZHUANG SUBBRANCH, INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL BANK OF CHINA
ACCOUNT No. 0200001409008818443
ADDRESS: No.26 BAIWANZHUANG ROAD, XICHENG DISTRICT, BEIJING 100037, CHINA.
Tel.: 008610-68999665
Please note:
Payment of fees at the registration desk can be done by cash (US dollars or Chinese yuan). Credit cards and cheques can not be accepted.
All refunds (including non-attendance) will incur a 25% charge.
We will arrange accommodation for all attendees. If you have any questions regarding accommodation, or would prefer to organize your own accommodation please contact us immediately.

5. Symposium Committees

(a) Steering committee
Honorary Chairman: Wang Min
Chairman: Zhong Ziran
Vice Chairmen: Chen Xiaoning, Bai Xingbi, Dong Shuwen, Hou Zengqian
Secretary-general: Gao Jinxi
Vice-secretary-general: Yao Peiyi, Ji Qiang
Committee members: Ye Jianliang, Liu Fengshan, Ji Shu’an, Lü Junchang

(b) Academic committee:
Chairman：Unwin, David (UK)
Vice Chairmen: Ji Qiang, Lü Junchang
Committee members: Andres Brian (USA), Bennett Chris (USA), Buffetaut Eric (France), Ji Shu’an (China), Kellner Alexander (Brazil), Dong Zhiming (China).
Academic Secretaries: Ji Qiang, Ji Shu’an, Lü Junchang, Lee Yuong-Nam, David Hone

All correspondence (e-mail preferred), including any questions or suggestions, should be sent to Lü Junchang and Dave Unwin:

Lü Junchang
Institute of Geology
Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences
Beijing 100037
China
e-mail: Yilong2010@gmail.com or: lujc2008@126.com

Tel: 0086-1068999707 (0), 00-86-13717801392

David M Unwin
Department of Museum Studies
University of Leicester
103-105 Princess Road East
Leicester LE1 2LG
Tel: +44 (0) 116 252 3947
e-mail: dmu1@leicester.ac.uk