About
History
IPC and IOPC each draw upon distinguished and long-established traditions, having been founded in 1962 and 1980, respectively. Initially organised as separate recurring congresses, they served as principal international forums for advancing research in , acritarchs and dinoflagellate cysts—and palaeobotany, the study of fossil plants. A significant milestone was reached in 2008, when the XII IPC and VIII IOPC were convened jointly in Bonn, marking the beginning of a sustained partnership between the two communities. Since then, the congresses have been held together at regular intervals, fostering interdisciplinary exchange and collaboration through shared scientific programmes. This integrated format has continued in subsequent meetings, culminating most recently in the 2024 congress held in Prague. Today, the joint IPC–IOPC congress represents a premier global gathering, reflecting the natural complementarity of the two fields and reinforcing their shared commitment to advancing understanding of ancient ecosystems, evolution of organisms foundational to all food webs such as plants and plankton, and Earth’s environmental history.
Host Organizations
The meeting is promoted by the collective efforts of the International Federation of Palynological Societies (IFPS) and the International Organisation of Palaeobotany (IOP).
The International Federation of Palynological Societies
The International Federation of Palynological Societies (IFPS) is a global, non-profit organization that brings together regional, national, and specialist groups dedicated to the study of palynology—the science of pollen, spores, and other microscopic organic remains. Founded in 1966, IFPS promotes international collaboration, advances research and education in palynology and related fields, and supports the exchange of knowledge through publications and regular International Palynological Congresses held around the world.
International Organisation of Palaeobotany
The International Organisation of Palaeobotany (IOP) is a global scientific body dedicated to promoting collaboration and research in the study of fossil plants and ancient vegetation. It supports the advancement of palaeobotany by organizing international conferences, facilitating communication among researchers, and sharing knowledge through publications and partnerships with other scientific organizations. Committed to fostering an inclusive and collaborative scientific community, the IOP works to strengthen the role of palaeobotany in understanding Earth’s evolutionary and environmental history.