MICROPALAEONTOLOGY IN THE PARK
Bringing the Invisible World of Microfossils to the Public
Microfossils are fundamental to our understanding of Earth history, past oceans, climate change and geological time, yet their microscopic size means that this fascinating world usually remains invisible to the general public.
During INA20, we want to change that.
On 17 February 2027, the park in front of the Museo de La Plata will become an open-air micropalaeontology laboratory. Researchers attending INA20 will leave the conference rooms and meet directly with children, families, students, museum visitors and the wider community to share what microfossils are, how we study them and why they matter.
Visitors will be invited to observe, touch, discover and become scientists. Activities will include microscopy stations with real microfossils, informal conversations with local and international researchers, enlarged 3D models of organisms normally smaller than a grain of sand, illustrated educational materials and activities specially designed for children.
Hands-on games will show how micropalaeontologists use fossils to interpret the geological record. Participants will be able to identify foraminifera and ostracods to reconstruct past environments, and take part in a nannofossil biozonation challenge, searching simulated sediment samples for hidden nannofossils, determining their relative ages and reconstructing a sedimentary succession.
The aim is to make micropalaeontology visible, understandable and relevant, while encouraging direct interaction between the public and scientists from around the world. The outreach programme will also connect with the INA20 Art & Science activities at the Museo de La Plata, bringing together science, education and creativity during a special day of the meeting.
INA20 participants are warmly encouraged to take part and help us share
the invisible world of microfossils with the community of La Plata.