Birmingham to host prestigious palaeontology conference
Birmingham has been awarded the prestigious bid to host the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology’s 85th Annual Meeting, an international conference aimed at experts in vertebrate palaeontology. Scheduled to take place at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Birmingham in November, this notable event will convene approximately 1,200 scientists, students, artists, writers, and scholars from around the globe. The local hosts for the conference will be palaeontologists from the University of Birmingham.
The conference will feature a diverse lineup, including symposiums, technical sessions, presentations, exhibitions, and films that delve into the history and evolution of vertebrate animals, as well as discussions on the discovery, conservation, and protection of vertebrate fossils and fossil sites.
Birmingham’s hosting of the conference marks a significant milestone as it becomes the second city in the UK and the third destination in Europe to host the event after its 85-year history, which has predominantly been situated in North America. The event is anticipated to have a considerable economic impact, with projections estimating it will contribute over £1.5 million to the West Midlands economy.
The successful bid was facilitated by the Birmingham and West Midlands Convention Bureau in collaboration with VisitBritain, MCI USA, and the University of Birmingham. Steve Knight, Senior Business Tourism Manager at the West Midlands Growth Company, expressed enthusiasm about the event, stating: “It is a great start to 2025 for the West Midlands’ business events community to be able to announce another major international conference in our calendar. We look forward to welcoming 1,200 palaeontologists from around the globe to our region in November and hope attendees enjoy both the ICC Birmingham’s fantastic facilities, as well as our popular cultural and culinary offer during any downtime.”
This international gathering is poised to add significant visibility and prestige to Birmingham as a hub for scientific discourse and research, while also promising to attract considerable international attention to the region's amenities and offerings.