THE TRIASSIC PALEONTOLOGY IN THE 21st CENTURY: 

NEWS AFTER THE FIRST QUARTER

State of the art of the major Triassic palaeontological novelties of the last 25 years

May 26th – 29th, 2026

Agordo (Dolomites, Italy)

FIRST CIRCULAR

 

Supported by:

Dipartimento di Geoscienze, Università degli Studi di Padova                       Fondazione Dolomiti UNESCO

 Geological Museum of Peking University                       TRIASSICA Institute for Triassic Fossil-Lagerstätten 

Gruppo Agordino Mineralogico Paleontologico GAMP Dolomiti                                       Comune di Agordo

                                               Parco Nazionale delle Dolomiti Bellunesi
        

Dear colleagues,

The first quarter of the 21st century has witnessed an incredible explosion of knowledge about Triassic biodiversity. As Triassic life is closely linked to the recovery following the Great Dying, the study of both historical and newly discovered fossil assemblages has contributed signifcantly to refning the chronology and understanding of this recovery.

For example, in the past 25 years new sites discovered in China, northern Italy and Slovenia have greatly expanded our knowledge of the origin and early diversification of Triassic marine reptiles and ichthyofaunas. For marine invertebrates, the Middle Triassic has been a signi!cant period for major bioevents, such as the complete recovery of benthic mollusks as well as sponges, corals, and echinoderms. Terrestrial environments have also yielded remarkable new data, such as the discovery of a rich insect fauna at Monte San Giorgio.

This congress aims to cover all branches of Triassic paleontology: from terrestrial and marine invertebrates and vertebrates to paleobotany and palynology, from micropaleontology to paleoichnology, from paleogeography to paleoecology and more. The diversity of contributions aims to strengthen the interdisciplinary nature of Triassic research, in order to offer a more complete understanding of Triassic ecosystems.

We look forward to welcoming you here to present the state of the art of your research, illustrate the progress made over the past 25 years, and fostering discussions on the future directions of Triassic paleontological research.

Welcome to the Dolomites! Welcome to Agordo!

1. Some examples of Topics

  • Overviews of newly discovered and significant fossil sites from around the world
  • Insights into the recovery dynamics and evolutionary trajectories
  • Advances in the understanding of Triassic ecosystems, taphonomic processes, and paleoenvironmental reconstructions
  • New perspectives on animal behavior and environmental interactions during the Triassic.

Duration of presentation: 15 min (ca. 12/13 min + 2/3 min for questions).

Poster size: A0 (84.1 x 118.9 cm)

2. Organization

  • Organization committee

Davide Conedera (UniPD, GAMP), Manuel Conedera (GAMP), Danilo Giordano, Roberto Gatto (UniPD), Stefano Monari (UniPD), Manolo Piat (GAMP, Museo Selva di Cadore), Andrea Tintori (TRIASSICA)

  • Scientific committee

Stefano Dominici, Nick Fraser, Roberto Gatto, Danilo Giordano, Hans Hagdorn, Da-yong Jiang, Evelyn Kustatscher, Stefano Monari, Matteo Montagna, Ryosuke Motani, Nereo Preto, Manuel Rigo, Guido Roghi, Jaroslaw Stolarski, Andrea Tintori.

The Scientific Committee may be expanded at a later stage.

3. Main sponsors and supporters

  • Department of Geosciences, University of Padua
  • Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Foundation
  • Geological Museum of Peking University
  • TRIASSICA Institute for Triassic Fossil-Lagerstätten 
  • Mineralogical Paleontological Agordino Group GAMP Dolomiti
  • Municipality of Agordo
  • Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park

 

4. Preliminary Program

Monday, May 25th, 2026 – Arrival and Registration:

Participants are expected to arrive during the afternoon for the registration and check-in at the conference venue. A shuttle service will be provided from Milan to Agordo, and in the Agordo area.

Conference venue | Sala Don Ferdinando Tamis, Via XXVII Aprile, 5, 32021 Agordo BL

Tuesday, May 26th, 2026 – First Day of Scientific Sessions: 

  • Welcome addresses from organization and authorities.
  • Session 1
  • Coffee Break
  • Session 2
  • Buffet lunch included in the registration fee.
  • Session 3
  • Coffee Break
  • Session 4
  • Dinner: Free evening (dinner not included).

Wednesday, May 27th, 2026 – Field Excursion:

  • Morning, visit the Pelsa/Vazzoler fossil site (fossil invertebrates, plants, and fish; altitude ~1800 m).
  • Lunch: Included in the registration fee at the historic Valle Imperina Mines.
  • Afternoon guided tour of the Valle Imperina mining site.
  • Dinner: Free evening (dinner not included).

Thursday, May 28th, 2026 – Second Day of Scientific Sessions:

  • Session 5
  • Coffee Break
  • Session 6
  • Buffet lunch included in the registration fee.
  • Session 7
  • Coffee Break
  • Session 8
  • Summary and closing remarks
  • Conference Dinner: Included in the registration fee.

Friday, May 29th, 2026 – Final excursion

  • Early morning departure (approx. 7:30 AM) for a field visit to a newly discovered Permian-Triassic boundary site along the Rova stream in Agordo.
  • Transfer by bus to:
    • The Geo-Paleontological Museum of Selva di Cadore.
    • The Paleontological Museum of Cortina d’Ampezzo.
  • Continue to Ortisei (Val Gardena), where an overnight stay is planned. 

Saturday, May 30, 2026 – Seceda & Ortisei Museums (Val Gardena)

  • Morning excursion to Seceda, offering panoramic views of the Dolomites/Ladinian Buchenstein Fm.
  • Visit to the Geo-Paleontological Museum of Ortisei.
  • Return to Milan and other airports  by the evening.

 

5. Transportation – How to reach Agordo

Agordo is located in the Belluno province of northern Italy, in the heart of the Dolomites. Below are the recommended travel options for reaching the town by public and private transportation.

By Air – The nearest international airports are:

  • Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) – approx. 130 km (2h drive)
  • Treviso Antonio Canova Airport (TSF) – approx. 110 km (1h 45m drive)
  • Verona Valerio Catullo Airport (VRN) – approx. 200 km (3h drive)
  • Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) – approx. 370 km (4h drive)
  • Milan Orio al Serio Airport (BGY) – approx. 300 km (3h 30m drive)

Conference Shuttle Service – To facilitate travel to Agordo, we have arranged a conference shuttle bus on Monday, May 25, 2026, which will pick up participants at the following airports: Milan Malpensa (MXP), Milan Orio al Serio (BGY), Venice Marco Polo (VCE), Treviso Antonio Canova (TSF), Verona Valerio Catullo (VRN).

The shuttle will depart after collecting all registered participants and travel directly to Agordo. At the end of the conference, on the final day, the same shuttle will return participants to the airports, ensuring a smooth journey back. To use this service, reservation is required. Please contact the organizing committee in advance to secure your spot.

In case you prefer to get to Agordo on your own, here you find other options:

By Public Transport – The closest major railway station is Belluno, which is connected to Venice and Padua, you may take a Trenitalia train. Each main airport is connected to the nearest railway station by local buses. Once arrived at Belluno, Agordo can be reached either by the regular DolomitiBus services operating between Belluno and Agordo (approx. 50 minutes), or by Taxi or Rental Car: Available at the station for direct transfer.

By Car – For those traveling by car, Agordo is accessible via:

  • From Venice/Treviso: Take the A27 motorway north to Belluno, then follow SS203 towards Agordo.
  • From Verona: Take the A4 motorway towards Venice, then the A27 north to Belluno, followed by SS203.
  • From Milan: Take the A4 motorway towards Venice, then the A27 north to Belluno, followed by SS203.

Free parking is available in and around the conference venue.

 

 

6. Accomodation

To assist participants in planning their stay, we have prepared a dedicated list of accommodations in Agordo and nearby villages, including both hotels and apartments with their address and contacts.

HERE THE LIST

We recommend starting your search on major booking platforms such as Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, Ospitalità Diffusa, and similar websites. However, since some accommodations are not listed online or may sell out quickly, we strongly suggest that you also consult the accommodation list we have prepared. Should you not find availability online, please contact the properties in the list directly.

Please note that the popular tourist areas of Falcade and Alleghe, which offer a wider range of hotels, are located relatively close to Agordo. However, staying in these towns requires access to a car or using the DolomitiBus public bus lines to reach the congress venue in Agordo (both villages at 20 km and 20 min from Agordo).

As the congress takes place in the Dolomites during the start of the summer tourist season, we strongly advise booking your accommodation several months in advance, as availability may be limited closer to the dates of the event.

Here you can download a general tourist map of Agordo. A shuttle service will operate around Agordo to facilitate your local transportation between your accommodation (only among those from the provided list) and the congress venues.

7. Registration fee

Early Bird | January 31st, 2026 

  • Regular: €550
  • Students/PhD candidates: €400

Standard Registration | from February 1st, 2026

  • Regular: €650
  • Students/PhD candidates: €500
Included:
  • Access to all scienti!c sessions.
  • Shuttle service between the Congress venue and your accommodation of the provided list
  • Buffet lunches and coffee breaks on days 2 and 4
  • Participation field excursion and lunch day 3
  • Conference dinner on day 4- 
NOT included:
Optional services to be paid during registration:
  •  Shuttle service from the airport to Agordo on Monday (€50)
  • Field excursion in Val Gardena (including bus from Agordo to Ortisei and Milan, two lunches, one night’s accommodation, dinner and breakfast in Ortisei, and cable car to Seceda Mountain) approximately €300–350
To be arranged individually by participants:
  • Accommodation in Agordo (4 nights)
  • Dinners on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

Residents of the Belluno Province can take advantage of a special rate of €50, which includes: the access to the two days of scientific sessions, including coffee breaks and buffet lunch.  

Payment Information

Please make the payment to the GAMP account via one of the following methods:

1. Bank Transfer

Bank: FPB Cassa di Fassa Primiero Belluno – Banca di Credito Cooperativo Soc. Coop.

IBAN: IT58Z0814088260000006027724

BIC: CCRTIT2T38A

Payment Reference: Please include “NAME-SURNAME Triassic Congress Registration”

2. PayPal

To: @agordogampdolomiti

Payment Reference: Please select the option “Send money to friends” and include the reference “NAME-SURNAME Triassic Congress Registration”.

 

8. Deadlines

  • Expression of Interest Deadline: June 15th, 2025 (Please submit your non-binding interest to participate by this date, answer to the contact emails)
  • Second Circular and Online Payment Opens: September 30th, 2025 (Detailed information and registration process will be available)
  • Early Bird Period closes: January 31st, 2026
  • Abstract Submission Deadline and Online Payment Closes: March 15th, 2026                                                                                                                              (All abstracts must be submitted by this date; online payment will also close)
  • Third Circular: April 15th, 2026 (Final program and additional conference details will be shared)

 

9. Contacts

Davide Conedera – davide.conedera@phd.unipd.it

Prof. Andrea Tintori paleo.tintori@outlook.it

Prof. Stefano Monari stefano.monari@unipd.it