
PetroStrat had the honour of hosting the 19th International Nannoplankton Association conference in September. The conference was the biggest event to be organised in PetroStrat’s 20-year history!
The event was led by conveyors, nannopalaeontologists Simon Cole and Tamsin Lawrence, and expertly assisted by Marina Ciummelli, Fabio Russo, Christian Joachim and Bryan Ladner. We are proud of the contributions and support by all of the PetroStrat staff involved in making this conference a success!
Join us in celebrating and reflecting on this truly remarkable event, as we share some of our favourite memories and photos from the four-day conference.
What is the International Nannoplankton Association (INA)?
The International Nannoplankton Association (INA) is a global scientific society dedicated to fostering research on nannoplankton, a diverse group of microscopic organisms including coccolithophores, nannoliths, calcispheres, and silicoflagellates. Established in 1985, the INA’s primary objective has always been to advance the understanding of these crucial marine microorganisms.
The INA convenes a biennial conference, traditionally held in scenic locations worldwide. We were delighted to host this year’s gathering in the captivating landscapes of North Wales.

PetroStrat proudly Hosted the 19th INA Meeting in North Wales
The meeting welcomed 138 participants from 28 countries, including researchers, academics, government officials, and industry experts. Many travelled to North Wales, while a small number joined online from the USA, France, and Brazil. Notably, 28 industry representatives attended, highlighting the successful outreach of this first industry-hosted INA conference.
We are immensely grateful for the overwhelming support from both industry and academic sponsors. Their generous contributions enabled us to offer sponsorship to eight students and support numerous other conference events during the nine-day program. Thank you to all sponsors for their invaluable contributions to the success of the meeting.
Pre-conference field trip – Anglesey / Ynys Môn

The first field trip organised for the INA 19 Conwy meeting was to Ynys Môn (Isle of Anglesey). Delegates were welcomed on the morning of a beautifully mild and sunny 7th September at the official conference hotel, the St George’s in Llandudno, before travelling to several locations on Ynys Môn. The field trip was expertly led by Dr Rob Crossley, a GeoMôn trustee. GeoMôn is a UNESCO Global Geopark, and a charity that is run by local people, including geologists, to increase community awareness and engagement of the Geopark.
The delegates visited sites including:
- South Stack: Discovered the dramatic sea cliffs and lighthouse at South Stack, and enjoyed breathtaking panoramic views.
- Mynydd Parys (Parys Mountain) Copper Mine: The group explored the Mars-like landscape of this former copper mine, learning about its rich history and the volcanic geology that shaped the region.
- Ynys Llanddwyn (Lladdwyn Island): A leisurely walk across the sandy beach, taking in the stunning views and volcanic pillow lavas. We then visited the enchanting Ynys Llanddwyn, voted ‘one of the top 100 geological sites on the planet’.
Ice Breaker Party – Conwy Castle
Sunday 8th dawned, registration opened at the St George’s Hotel and we were again overwhelmed by the number of attendees and the excitement that surrounded the start of the conference. At the same time, a team of scientists from PetroStrat descended on Conwy Castle to set up marquees ahead of the evening icebreaker event, hosted inside the castle.
The event welcomed the Mayor of Conwy and Constable of the Castle, Councillor Janette Hughes, and Mayor of Llandudno, Councillor Michael Pearce.
Despite the proper Welsh weather, participants enjoyed drinks and nibbles, entertainment from two medieval jugglers, and those that braved the weather were rewarded with views of Snowdonia, Llandudno and Conwy from the top of the highest tower!

The Conference – St George’s Hotel, Llandudno

The scientific conference was held in the Victorian St George’s Hotel, on the seafront in Llandudno across four days. There were 108 abstracts presented, including 64 oral presentations and 46 posters.
Nine workshops were hosted, covering a wide range of topics including scientific writing and reviewing, biostratigraphy software, Jurassic nannofossils, and AI. The conference also welcomed sixth-form students from four local schools as part of the outreach program to introduce school students to the microscopic world of nannoplankton.
Highlights included;
- Keynote talks given by Tamsin Lawrence (PetroStrat) and Emma Sheldon (GEUS) on the role of female nannopalaeontologists and their work in applied biostratigraphy in the offshore world
- Mike Simmons‘ (Halliburton) interesting talk on biostratigraphy and the energy transition.
- Paul Bown (University College London) presenting a fascinating introduction talk on nanoplankton at the public outreach session. He discussed the role of nanno fossils in modeling past climates, as well as their application in biostratigraphy
- Dave Rutledge, Director at PetroStrat, also presented a talk titled “Application of nannofossils (the missing piece of the puzzle) from offshore Newfoundland: Upgrading the regional stratigraphy via an integrated multidisciplinary approach”.
- Sharing in the vibrant discussion in the Cretaceous Working Group session. Hot topics of discussion: how to improve NannoTax, refreshing the Upper Cretaceous zonation, better age calibration.
- A bustling atmosphere filled the poster room. The session was a great platform for scientists to showcase their work and engage in stimulating discussions. It was a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow researchers from around the world and learn about the latest advancements in nannoplankton research.
A huge congratulations to the winners of the prizes:
- Shirely van Heck Prize: Micaela Chaumeil RodrÃguez, Odysseus Archontikis, and Diego Felipe Vallejo Hincapié for the significant impact they have had on INA to promote outreach and to create social media content. Shirley herself made a vibrant tribute to the three young INA officers as she awarded the prizes.
- Best Student Talk: Laura Bronzo and Sara Marconato.
- Best Student Poster: Nikoleta Vitsou and Joseph Asamble.
- The Student Marathon Award (for furthest distance travelled): Joeven Austine S. Calvelo and Justin Jorge Padre (University of the Philippines).
- Katharina von Salis Graduate Research Fellowship: Edna de Jesús Francisco Tungo and Paula Granero Ordóñez








Mid-week field trips

Two mid-week evening field trips were organised to Y Gogarth (The Great Orme), where delegates had the opportunity to see the infamous Llandudno Kashmiri Goats up close, and explore the fascinating Carboniferous geology of Y Gogarth, expertly led by Peter Lucas, PetroStrat geologists, before finishing in a local bar for dinner and drinks.
The conference dinner
The conference dinner was hosted at Dylan’s Llandudno, a restaurant that champions local produce. A specially drawn-up menu for INA 19 Conwy was created by the Dylan’s chefs, including local lamb and Anglesey line-caught sea bass. This was followed by dancing, with music from a traditional Twmpath band, and a chance for delegates to relax and connect.


Post conference field trip – Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park.
Day 1
Around 30 delegates attended the two-night, residential, post-conference to Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park. We kicked things off under on a (surprisingly lucky!) sunny Friday the 13th. We started exploring the slate mines and ruins of Llanberis, followed by a fascinating descent 500ft underground at the Llechwedd Slate Mines. A majestic herd of 30 wild mountain goats even showed up to say hello.

Day 2
We hiked one of the world’s steepest streets in Harlech, learned about the local geology and Mochras Borehole, and enjoyed a delicious lunch with a view of the UNESCO World Heritage Harlech Castle. The day culminated in a visit to the beautiful Mawddach estuary, exploring the history of Welsh gold mining, and a delicious dinner in a traditional seaside pub.

Day 3
Day three brought a true wet Welsh weather experience, but that didn’t dampen our spirits! Our final day saw us journey aboard the iconic Ffestiniog steam railway, a truly unique way to experience the stunning Welsh countryside. We finished our adventure in style, exploring the majestic UNESCO World Heritage Caernarfon Castle. Thankfully, the rain cleared in time for panoramic views from the castle towers, drawing a full circle back to Anglesey, where our INA19 adventure began with the pre-conference field trip!
