Objectives of the Workshop
In addition to the broad exchanges on grand challenges in what paleontology and related fields can inform on critical transitions in the history of life, this workshop also aims to be a platform to bring together US and Chinese specialists to find new ways for deep collaborations. Paleontologists from both countries often complement each other in important ways that present unique opportunities for extensive collaboration. We particularly encourage participation by young scientists at graduate and postdoctoral fellow levels. The following questions will be addressed in breakout sessions.
- The tempo and mode of origination, diversification and extinction events during critical transitions;
- The ecological impact of diversification and extinction events during critical transitions;
- The environmental background of origination, diversification and extinction events during critical transitions.
- Temp, mode, environmental context, and geobiological impact of animal diversification during the Ediacaran and early Paleozoic;
- Biogeographic and biostratigraphic implications of Paleozoic vertebrate radiations;
- The evolution of land plants and their effect the origins of vertebrate air-breathing and the invasion of the terrestrial environment;
- Temp, mode, environmental context, and geobiological impact of the Paleozoic-Mesozoic transition;
- Origins and initial diversification of mammals and birds in the Mesozoic; Mid Cenozoic climatic cooling, the Grande Coupure, zoogeographic interchange between Europe, Asia, Africa and North America;
- Late Cenozoic uplift of Tibetan Plateau and tectonically induced monsoon climates, and related cooling and drying in central Asia;
- Faunal and floral provincialities in Eurasia and Africa; C4 plant expansion and its climatic signals;
- Late Cenozoic terrestrial zoogeographic exchange between Africa, Europe, Asia and North America.
Following past workshop formats, the host country provides in-country expenses for the workshop foreign colleagues (which does not include the flight to the United States). Generally, the NSF and NSFC have borne those costs. Some Chinese colleagues may want to travel, either before or after the meeting, to various places, but it is not covered by workshop expenses. There is a limited funding for participation by US scientists, which generally cover travel to Los Angeles plus hotel expenses. We will issue individual invitations as soon as funding is received from the NSF.
Workshop Program Outline
A three-day workshop is planned during 9-11 March, 2012, followed by a half-day excursion to the George Page Museum at La Brea Tar Pit. Detailed agenda to be announced later.
8 March, arrival at Los Angeles
Day 1 (March 9, Friday)
- Opening addresses
- Presentations by participating program officers from NSF (Geoscience and Biology programs) and NSFC.
- Presentations by participants (15 minutes each)
- Parallel breakout sessions:
- Pre-Cenozoic group on major critical transitions to be addressed in future collaborative proposals.
- Cenozoic group on major transitions to be addressed in collaborative proposal.
- Morning: parallel breakout sessions continued from Day 2;
- Afternoon: trip to Page Museum at La Brea Tar Pit.
Field Excursions
In the afternoon of the last day (March 11), an excursion to the Page Museum at La Brea Tar Pit is planned, where workshop participants are encouraged to explore the popular Ice Age exhibit on the famous Rancho la Brea megafauna. As an alternative, workshop participants can also visit two of the Natural History Museum's newest exhibits: the Age of Mammal Hall and Dinosaur Hall.
Organizers:
Xiaoming Wang, Shuhai Xiao, Raymond Bernor, John Long, Xiangdong Wang, Shuzhong Shen, Tao Deng, and Qiang Li
Sponsors:
National Natural Science Foundation of China National Science Foundation, USA Chinese Academy of Sciences Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology 