Palaeoclimatic and stratigraphic aspects of the Cretaceous period: symposium provided ample opportunity for exchange
From August 31 to September 5, 2025, the International Cretaceous Symposium took place at Leibniz University Hannover (LUH). Researchers from over 29 countries were welcomed with opening remarks by Prof. Dr. Francois Holtz, Vice Dean of Studies at the Faculty of Natural Sciences, Prof. Dr. Ralph Watzel, President of the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), and Prof. Dr. Ulrich Heimhofer from the Institute of Earth System Sciences.
Cretaceous topics in presentations, field trips and poster sessions
Approximately 230 participants exchanged views on various aspects of the Cretaceous period during the international conference. Scientific talks were held in two parallel sessions in the main building of LUH. Recent scientific findings could be explored in poster format in the atrium, for which young researchers were honoured with Early Career Scientists Awards.
A mid-conference field trip offered all participants the opportunity to study Cretaceous rock exposures around Hannover on Wednesday afternoon. In addition to the main conference, researchers had the chance to participate in two-day field excursions to study Cretaceous rocks in northern Germany before and after the conference.
The Cretaceous greenhouse world
The Cretaceous – the latest period of the Mesozoic Era – spanned from 143.1 to 66.0 million years ago. This geological era was characterised by a completely different tectonic configuration, biosphere and climate. Geological research into the Cretaceous period is of great significance because this interval represents one of the warmest phases in the entire Phanerozoic Eon and was marked by high sea levels and the absence of polar ice caps.
Over the past two decades, the development and application of various geochemical methods have led to a significantly better understanding of key palaeoecological variables such as sea surface temperatures, ocean carbonate saturation states, and palaeoatmospheric CO₂ concentrations. Nevertheless, considerable knowledge gaps remain regarding the of the global carbon cycle, weathering reactions, or continental climates.
In order to better understand the relationships between the evolution of organisms and changes in the physical environment, advances in dating methods and improved age models are crucial, as is the development of new methods and techniques for studying the sediment archive and its fossil contents. A focal point of the symposium was, therefore, the topic of integrated stratigraphy and the incorporation of new dating methods. Furthermore, meetings of the International and German Cretaceous Stratigraphy Commissions took place as part of the conference.
The International Cretaceous Symposium in Hannover provided an ideal opportunity for scientists to exchange their research findings on palaeoclimatic and stratigraphic aspects of the Cretaceous period. Participants are now looking forward to the next symposium, which will take place in 2029 at Kanazawa University in Japan.
