The 17th Edition of the International School on Foraminifera – “Advanced course on foraminiferal biostratigraphy” is designed as an advanced and specific training on foraminiferal biostratigraphy and to provide an overview of the taxonomy, and geological history of benthic foraminifera. This intensive course is intended for students and academic/industrial staff interested in biostratigraphy using foraminifera. The aim is to provide an in-depth knowledge on the study of foraminiferal evolution, distribution and biostratigraphy. We review the current classification schemes of the foraminifera, discuss their life history, review their usefulness for biostratigraphical applications, and use case studies to investigate the geological history of the group with lab and practical sessions. The entire course consists of approximately 40 hours of lectures and 40 hours of practical work.
Teaching Format:
The course consists of lectures and practical classes covering the taxonomy, stratigraphical distribution and biostratigraphy of foraminifera. Microscope lab sessions provide the opportunity for participants to learn the foraminiferal genera and species and view Jurassic to Neogene foraminiferal assemblages from Petroleum Exploration areas and ODP sites. At the end of each lecture session, different tasks will be assigned to participants to reinforce the knowledge learned. Course materials include the pdf lectures and numerous pdf reprints of classic papers.
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28 June: Registration and Icebreaker Party at Micropress Europe
Day 1 (29 June) - Kaminski, Cetean, Waskowska
- Welcoming speech and course presentation
- Milestones in Foraminiferal Biostratigraphy and Geochronology – Grzybowski, Cushman, and correlations to the Geological Timescale.
- Introduction to Foraminifera, & Review of Suborders
- Sample Preparation Techniques.
- Lab Task: Carpathian/North Sea/Norwegian Sea index taxa
- Material: Industrial Micropaleontology: North Sea smaller benthic Foraminifera
Day 2 (30 June) - Kaminski, Cetean
- Biostratigraphy and Paleoecology of benthic foraminifera
- The ODP record, Cretaceous/Paleogene boundary, Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, Eocene hyperthermals and late Eocene faunal turnover
- Lab: A review of late Cretaceous to Paleogene faunas and index taxa
- Cenozoic Paleoceanographic events and SBF
- Neogene of West Africa, and Gulf of Mexico:
- Lab: The Paleogene record; North Sea, Trinidad, offshore Angola, Gubbio
- A review of late Cretaceous to Paleogene faunas and index taxa Neogene of West Africa, and Gulf of Mexico: The ACEX Arctic Drilling Expedition Wellsite Micropaleontology.
Day 3 (1 July) - Hughes
- Early Carboniferous foraminifera and their use for paleoenvironmental interpretation
- Lab and Task 1: Foraminiferal identification using thin sections (paleoenvironment study)
- Late Permian foraminifera of the Middle East and their biosteering application
- Triassic micropalaeontology of her Middle East: age application
- Lab and Task 2: Triassic foraminiferal identification using photomicrographs (age determination)
Day 4 (2 July) - Hughes
- Jurassic foraminifera of the Middle East: age, paleoenvironment and implications for cycle definition
- Lab & Task 3: Jurassic foraminiferal identification using thin sections (age determination)
- Jurassic foraminifera of the Middle East (Oxfordian): age and paleoenvironment
- Lab & Task 4: Jurassic (Oxfordian) foraminiferal identification using photomicrographs: paleoenvironment exercise
- Late Jurassic hypersalinity events: foraminiferal & associated microfaunal/floral responses
- Lab & Task 5: Jurassic hypersaline foraminiferal identification using photomicrographs: paleoenvironment study
- Cretaceous foraminifera of the Middle East: age, paleoenvironment and implications for cycle definition
- Lab & Task 6: Cretaceous (Aptian) foraminiferal identification using photomicrographs: age and paleoenvironment exercise
- Neogene foraminiferal applications in the Red Sea hypersaline-associated succession
Day 5 (3 July) - Papazzoni & Briguglio
- Most important groups of LBF in the Phanerozoic
- Shallow water K/T boundary and Palaeocene LBF associations
- Evening Pizza Party & Presentations
Day 6 (4 July) - Papazzoni & Briguglio
- The Eocene biodiversity (I): Nummulitids
- The Eocene biodiversity (II): Orthophragminids
- The Eocene biodiversity (III): Alveolinids
- Lab: Nummulitids, Orthophragminids, Alveolinids
- LBF biostratigraphy, Oppelzones and applications
- Oligo-Miocene LBF associations
- Lab 1: Lepidocyclinids and Miogypsinids
Day 7 (5 July) - Kaminski & Waskowska
- Paleozoic & Mesozoic Agglutinated Foraminifera
- Biostratigraphy - A review of Jurassic to late Cretaceous faunas.
- Notes on Paleoecology and Paleoceanography
- Lab: Paleozoic–Mesozoic index species
- Task 1: Morphology of Paleozoic–Mesozoic species
- Task 2: Identification of Cretaceous biozones
Day 8 (6 July) Kaminski & Waskowska
- Paleogene agglutinated Foraminifera
- Biostratigraphy
- Notes on Paleoceanography
- Lab: Paleogene index species
- Task 1: Morphology of Paleogene DWAF
- Task 2: The Paleogene record; North Sea, Trinidad, offshore Angola, Gubbio
Day 9 (7 July) Speijer
- Cenozoic smaller Foraminifera
- Paleogene smaller calcareous benthic Foraminifera
- Cenozoic Paleoceanographic events and SBF
- Notes on Paleoceanography and Paleoecology
- Biochronology and Zonal schemes, faunal turnovers
- Lab: Paleogene index species species
- Task 1: Identification of biozones
- Task 2: Paleobathymetry and paleoecology using smaller benthic foraminiferal assemblages
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Course Dinner, Graduation ceremony
Day 10 (8 July) - Kaminski & Waskowska
- Morning microscope session – DSDP sample collection
- Optional trip to Wieliczka Salt Mine
Number of participants: 12 | Final deadline May 1st, 2026
Registration fees
Early registration (registration and payment before February 28th, 2026)
- PhD/MSc Students: Euro 650
- Academic/Industrial staff: Euro 950
Late registration (registration and payment after February 28th, 2026)
- PhD/MSc Students: Euro 800
- Academic/Industrial staff: Euro 1100
The fee includes:
- lectures 10-day course
- lecture notes, handouts, PowerPoint, pdf of reprints
- icebreaker and pizza party
- refreshments
- social dinner