Palaeontological Association

Palaeontological Association
Name	Palaeontological Association
Founded	1957
Location	United Kingdom

Contents

Palaeontological Association is a learned society founded in 1957 to promote the study of fossils and palaeobiology. It supports research, publishes scientific journals and monographs, funds grants and awards, and organizes meetings that link researchers across institutions such as Natural History Museum, London, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, and international centers like Smithsonian Institution and American Museum of Natural History. Its activities intersect with professional bodies and museums including Royal Society, British Geological Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, University of Edinburgh, and University of Manchester.

History

The society was established in the postwar period amid renewed interest in fieldwork and systematic collections, contemporary with developments at Natural History Museum, London, University of Cambridge, and University of Oxford. Early collaborations involved curators and academics affiliated with institutions such as Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Geological Society of London, and British Museum (Natural History). Over decades the association engaged with major projects and debates linked to figures and events like Charles Darwin-related centenaries, the rise of paleobiology in universities such as Harvard University and University of Chicago, and international symposia hosted by organizations including International Paleontological Association and European Geosciences Union. Partnerships extended to museums and institutes such as Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Field Museum, Museums Victoria, and research institutes including Max Planck Society and CNRS.

The association aims to advance palaeontological science through publications, funding, outreach, and professional development with links to academic departments at University of Bristol, University of Leeds, University of Glasgow, University of Liverpool, and University of Birmingham. It promotes communication between curators at Natural History Museum, London and researchers at institutions like Stanford University, Yale University, Princeton University, and University of California, Berkeley. Activities include supporting fieldwork in regions such as Mesozoic basins in United Kingdom, China, Argentina, and Antarctica and collaboration with conservation bodies including UNESCO and national trusts. The association works with educational partners such as Science Museum, London and outreach initiatives linked to exhibitions at British Museum, National Museums Scotland, and university museums.

The association publishes peer-reviewed periodicals and monographs produced by editorial boards drawn from universities including University of Southampton, University of York, Durham University, University of St Andrews, and University College London. Its journals are read alongside titles from Nature, Science, Proceedings of the Royal Society B, and specialist outlets such as Journal of Paleontology, Palaeontology, Geological Magazine, and Journal of the Geological Society. Monograph series and special publications have featured work connected to field sites studied by researchers at University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, Harvard University, Smithsonian Institution, and Field Museum. The publishing program interacts with scholarly infrastructures including CrossRef, library systems at British Library and Library of Congress, and indexing services used by scholars at California Institute of Technology and ETH Zurich.

The association organizes annual meetings, thematic conferences, and regional symposia often hosted at venues like Natural History Museum, London, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, University of Bristol, and international sites connected to International Paleontological Congress and European Geosciences Union assemblies. It collaborates on joint meetings with societies such as Geological Society of London, Linnean Society of London, Royal Society of Edinburgh, and institutions including Smithsonian Institution, American Museum of Natural History, Field Museum, and Museums Victoria. Conferences attract researchers from universities such as University of Edinburgh, Imperial College London, Yale University, Princeton University, and Stanford University, and feature keynote speakers from bodies like Royal Society and funding agencies such as Natural Environment Research Council.

The association awards grants, studentships, and prizes to support palaeontological research, fieldwork, and collections care, comparable to awards administered by Royal Society, Geological Society of London, and funding bodies including Natural Environment Research Council and European Research Council. Its prizes recognize early-career researchers at universities such as University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, University of Bristol, University of Leeds, and University of Manchester and support collaborations with museums like Natural History Museum, London and British Museum. Grant recipients have undertaken projects in collaboration with institutions including Smithsonian Institution, Field Museum, National Museums Scotland, and research centres supported by Wellcome Trust and European Commission programs.

Membership comprises academics, museum professionals, students, and amateurs affiliated with institutions such as University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Natural History Museum, London, University College London, University of Edinburgh, and international partners like Smithsonian Institution and American Museum of Natural History. Governance follows an elected council and officers model similar to practice at Royal Society and Geological Society of London, with committees for publications, meetings, outreach, and grants drawing members from universities including Imperial College London, University of Southampton, Durham University, and University of York. The organization liaises with national and international bodies including Natural Environment Research Council, European Research Council, UNESCO, and learned societies such as Linnean Society of London and Royal Society of Edinburgh.