During NAC10, groups and organisations can organise their own (Annual General) meetings during one of the parallel sessions at the conference.

 

Session INQUA NL

Natural climate variability during the Quaternary
The Quaternary comprises the last 2.6 million years of geological history and is characterized by an alternation of cold Glacials and warm Interglacials. Although the youngest part of the Quaternary; the Holocene appears to be an interglacial with continuous warm conditions over the last 10,000 years, there are several relatively short-lived climate oscillations (e.g. the 8.2 ky event) that indicate that the present day climate cannot be regarded as stable. Also during Glacial periods, short-lived climate changes occurred (cf. Dansgaard-Oeschger cycles) indicating natural climate variability. During the Last Glacial at least 25 colder stadial and warmer interstadial phases can be recognized globally in different climate archives. Understanding of the mechanisms behind these short-lived oscillations is crucial with respect to the present-day climate change issue.

INQUA Netherlands, the Dutch representation of the International Union for Quaternary Research, is organising this session with the aim to gather and intercompare different records of natural climate variability during the Quaternary.

INQUA-NL: Friday 23 April, 13.00 – 15.00 hours

Time

Session:  INQUA-NL
Location: to be announced

13.00-13.20

Hooghiemstra

13.20-13.40

Stuut

13.40-14.00

Van Asch

14.00-14.20

Beets

14.20-14.40

Kars

14.40-15.00

Busschers

Session Naturalis

Geological perspectives on biodiversity change
The UN declared 2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity, intended to increase public awareness about all aspects of biodiversity. The geological record provides a unique perspective on biodiversity change at various temporal and spatial scales, and as such is invaluable in understanding the processes behind present-day biodiversity change. Species richness is the net result of speciation, extinction, immigration and extirpation. The fossil record contains evidence of these processes and can be used to reconstruct an environmental context. In this symposium Naturalis aims to show examples from the geological record of biodiversity change and the need to differentiate between processes that generate, maintain and reduce biodiversity. Both background as well as catastrophic changes learn us about the magnitude and nature of the current biodiversity decline.

 

Session National Platform Planetary Science (NPP)

Planetary Exploration in The Netherlands
On April 21, the National Platform Planetary Science (NPP) will organize its third symposium, entitled "Planetary Exploration in The Netherlands: Present and Future"

We invite NAC10 delegates to attend this symposium. The day-long symposium will highlight latest results from all aspects of planetary science and space technology development in The Netherlands, through a combination of oral and poster presentations. There will be ample time for informal discussion, and the programme will include a panel discussion about the future of Dutch planetary science. The symposium will be concluded with a dinner featuring a guest lecture by dr. Ralph Lorenz (Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab) on Cassini Huygens and Titan. NAC10 will host a Planetary Science parallel session on April 22. For more information about (free) registration and programme details, please visit the NPP website: www.planeetonderzoek.nl