Paleonet: The 3rd International Metasequoia Symposium

Tue Apr 20 14:31:10 UTC 2010

The 3rd International Metasequoia Symposium at Osaka, Japan
August 3 to 8, 2010

Celebrating 70 years of “Metasequoia” since Prof. Miki’s description of
these fossil remains

Second Circular & Registration

The 3rd International Metasequoia Symposium will be held in Osaka, Japan
from August 3 to 8, 2010, and the organizing committee is pleased to invite
you to participate in this truly international event.

This interdisciplinary conference will provide scientists the opportunity to
present and discuss new research topics and ideas that are related to
Metasequoia and allied genera. The organizing committee has selected Japan
as the location to hold the 3rd International Metasequoia Symposium because
it has a history rich in the study of fossil plants and one of its most
notable scientists, Professor S. Miki was the first person to describe
Metasequoia fossils. The symposium is taking place at the Osaka Museum of
Natural History (OMNH) where Professor Miki’s collection resides, and
symposium participants will have an opportunity to observe Miki’s
collection. The organizing committee would also be delighted, if the
participants would participate in the field excursion where we will be
visiting a number of Neogene fossil locations and where you can enjoy and
experience typical Japanese nature and hospitality.

LOCATION: Osaka Museum of Natural History (OMNH)

CONFERENCE PROGRAM

August 3 (Tuesday) - Registration and Welcome Reception at OMNH
August 4 (Wednesday) - Opening, Paper and Poster Presentations, and Dinner
Party (river cruise on a Japanese traditional boat)
August 5 (Thursday) - Paper and Poster Presentations and Closing
August 6 (Friday) -8 (Sunday) - Field Excursion

CONFERENCE FEE

Payment will be at the reception desk at Osaka, Japan.  Only cash is
acceptable please.  You can withdraw cash (Japanese Yen) at most bank
machines throughout the country, but the best exchange rates can be obtained
at the airport upon arrival in Japan.  Credit cards are widely accepted
throughout the country, but not always a guarantee.  So, we recommend that
you have some cash on hand.

Exchange rates (as of 04/16/10): 1 Euro = 124 Yen; 1 US dollar = 92 Yen

Regular attendant fee: JPY 30,000/person
Student attendant fee: JPY 10,000/person
Dinner party on August 4th evening JPY 8, 000/person
Field excursion August 6-8th JPY 30,000/person

SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM

 Session 1.  Metasequoia and associated conifers in the Cenozoic
 Session 2.  Taxodioxylon and the history of taxodiaceous wood
 Session 3.  Taxodiaceous petrified forests
 Session 4.  Biology of the Taxodiaceae and associates
 Session 5.  Conservation and sustainable use of conifer forests
 Session 6.  Posters concerning Metasequoia and allied conifers

FIELD EXCURSION PROGRAM

August 6: AOTS Kansai Kenshu Center (recommended accommodation) - Lake Biwa
Museum (Lake Biwa is the largest freshwater lake in Japan with the history
that extends to the Pliocene (ca. 4 Ma) - Yoshinaga Fossil Forest of the
Late Pliocene Kobiwako Group – Gifu City (hotel along Nagara River where
traditional cormorant fishing is famous).

August 7: Gifu City - Petrified wood (Wataria) forest on riverbed of the
Kiso River at Minokamo (Early Miocene) - Opencast mine in Tajimi
(carpological fossil site of the early Late Miocene Tokiguchi Porcelain Clay
Formation near the type locality of Metasequoia) - Mizunami Fossil Museum
(Miocene fossil collection) – Akasawa, Kiso.

August 8: Natural forest (Chamaecyparis obtusa and the other Cupressaceae
with temperate deciduous trees) at Akasawa - Nagiso Village (historical
sites, traditional use of wood and timber) - return to Osaka (AOTS Kansai
Kenshu Center).

Transportation: Private bus

Accommodations: Japanese-style tatami room (4-6 persons per room)

Field excursion fee: JPY 30,000 includes all costs during the trip.

REGISTRATION 

You can download the registration form (MS Word file) here.
Please send e-mail to metasequoia.secretary at gmail.com with title
“Metasequoia registration” with the attachment file of the form.

Deadline for registration: June 1st, 2010. If you want to get financial
support from the committee, earlier registration is strongly recommended.

Registration Fees

Payment will be on reception desk at Osaka.  Only Japanese Yen (cash) are
acceptable.  Attendant fee: JPY 30,000/person (Attendant fee includes the
welcome reception during the evening of August 3rd, and lunches on August
4th and 5th).  Dinner party (river cruise on a Japanese traditional boat)
during the evening of August 4th: JPY 8,000/person.  Field excursion August
6-8th: JPY 30,000/person

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

　The organizing committee can financially support the attendants who will
present paper or poster at the symposium. The total amount will vary based
on country of origin, , economic circumstances, and age. Young researchers
(less than 40) will be given preference.

 Young researchers: JPY 80, 000 - 110,000/person
 Senior researchers: JPY 60,000 - 100,000/person

ACCOMMODATIONS:

Reasonable accommodations can be obtained at the AOTS Kansai Kenshu Center
(http://www.aots.or.jp/eng/about/center/facilities_kkc.html).  The facility
is located approximately 2 minutes by subway or a 10 minute walk from the
conference site. Rates are as follows: Single: JPY 6,000, Twin (5 rooms) JPY
10,000/night; meal plans are available, but they must be purchased at the
time the rooms are booked (breakfast JPY 600, lunch JPY 800 and dinner JPY
1,100).

If you want to stay in one of the other city hotels, you must then make your
own reservations.

ABSTRACTS FOR PAPERS AND POSTERS:

　Please send an electronic copy of your Abstract. Use 2 cm margins on all
four sides with single-spaced lines and Times New Roman typeface with a
12-point pitch. At the top, authors name and organization will be described,
and the tile will be at the next new paragraph. After one line space, text
with tables, figures, pictures or references. Please do not divide words.
One abstract will not exceed two pages of A4 or letter size paper.

Send the Abstract to metasequoia.secretary at gmail.com. If e-mail is not
possible, then please send your Abstract on a CD together with a hard copy
to the Secretary.

The deadline for submission of Abstracts is July 1, 2010.

Oral presentations: Each delegate will be allowed one oral presentation of
20 minutes including time for questions and discussion. PowerPoint
presentations are required. No slide projectors will be available. PC’s and
data projectors will be used for PowerPoint presentations. If other
audio-visual aids are needed, then please contact the Secretary.

Posters: A display panel with dimensions 3’8” (1.1 meters) high by 5’7” (1.7
meters) wide will be provided. Pushpins to facilitate display will be
provided. The posters will be displayed on August 3rd afternoon, and removed
on August 5th evening after closing ceremony.

For questions, e-mail to metasequoia.secretary at gmail.com