Palaeontology conference for early career researchers at University of Leicester, 1-3 June 2017

Annual conference for early career researchers to be held at the University from 1-3 June 2017

LEICESTER, 13-Oct-2016 — /EuropaWire/ — The University of Leicester’s Department of Geology Palaeobiology Research Group has announced it will host the early career researchers’ conference Progressive Palaeontology 2017.

Progressive Palaeontology, known as ProgPal, is a vibrant annual conference organised by and for early career researchers in palaeontology on behalf of the Palaeontological Association.

The event will be held in the University of Leicester’s Department of Geology from 1 -3 June 2017.

The conference offers PhD, Master’s and undergraduate palaeontology students the opportunity to present their research in the form of talks and posters. For many, this will be the very first time that they present their research to an academic audience of their peers – a key skill for professional life in academia and industry.

Over the last five years, ProgPal has blossomed into a substantial meeting where high-quality cutting-edge research is presented to an international audience, with research students travelling from mainland Europe and North America as well as across the UK.

The University of Leicester committee fended off stiff competition from other universities in the UK and mainland Europe for the opportunity to host the conference.

Current Leicester students and alumni interested in palaeontology are invited to attend and present their work at the conference. Email: progpal2017@palass.org for more information.

Thomas Hearing, Co-Chair, Progressive Palaeontology 2017 Organising Committee at the University of Leicester: “We are thrilled to be hosting ProgPal2017. It is the result of the hard work and dedication of a number of people in the University of Leicester Palaeobiology Research Group and reflects the thought and time spent preparing the bid.

“We aim to build on the flourishing reputation of ProgPal, a successful conference which has been growing in number and international support in recent years. The Leicester organising committee would like to be able to showcase the diversity of cutting-edge palaeontological research being done by current students in the UK and overseas at ProgPal2017 and hope to receive a wide range of abstracts. We look forward to welcoming everyone to Leicester in June 2017.”

Professor Richard England, Head of the Department of Geology at the University of Leicester, said: “I am delighted that the Department’s Palaeobiology research group is hosting this conference. This is a recognition of the quality of the research that the group undertakes and in particular its commitment to supporting and developing the capabilities of early career researchers.”

The University of Leicester organising committee comprises PhD students Jordan Bestwick, Thomas Hearing, Thomas Clements, Christopher Nedza, Michael Morton and Yasmin Yonan, who are generously supported by the PCSB (Geology) and Palaeobiology societies.

To keep up to date with preparations for ProgPal 2017:

–       visit the Palaeontological Association website: http://www.palass.org/meetings-events/progressive-palaeontology

–       email: progpal2017@palass.org

–       join the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1699245700394157/

–       follow us on Twitter: @ProgPal2017

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Notes to editors:

For more information email: progpal2017@palass.org

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SOURCE: University of Leicester