Abstract
International Fossil Day in India is an annual geoscientific celebration in October every year, to highlight the scientific and educational value of palaeontology and the importance of preserving fossils for future generations. Due to overwhelming response and interest, this year the IFD proceedings were conducted mainly between the 16 and 22 October 2023. The Palaeontological Society of India (PSI), Lucknow, in close association with its Regional Student Chapters all over the country, organised events with the active participation of young students, professionals and researchers through multi-modal programs that included both offline (classroom), online, hybrid modes and museum and field events. The main centres of the IFD celebrations included Sagar University, Madhya Pradesh (in association with the BHU and University of Allahabad); North-Eastern University’s Student Chapter, Dibrugarh; Nagpur Chapter (in association with the Geological Survey of India, Gondwana Geological Society and Alumni Association of PG Department of Geology, RTM Nagpur University, Nagpur). Other enthusiastic organisers/participants included Pune–Mumbai Chapter, Pune; Southern India Student Chapter, Chennai; Central University of South Bihar, Gaya; Goa Student Chapter, NIO, Goa; Delhi University, Delhi, Jammu University, Jammu; besides the Central body of the PSI (in association with BSIP), Lucknow. Lectures—field and museum—undertaken and demonstrations by the learned faculties in Bangalore University, Bangalore; Tethys Museum, Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh; Kathmandu University, Nepal and other places. The IFD-2023 events/programs were meticulously planned under the guidance of the President, PSI Professor M. P. Singh, and the EC. The event was coordinated by Dr Sudhir Shukla, Vice-President, of the Palaeontological Society of India, Lucknow.
Nagpur Chapter celebrated International Fossil Day on 21 October 2023, at Shivaji Science College, Shri Shivaji Education Society; Amravati’s Science College, Congress Nagar Nagpur. Dr Vipin Itankar, Collector, Nagpur district inaugurated the function along with Dr M. P. Dhore, Principal, Shivaji Science College, Dr P. B. Sarolkar, Dr D. M. Mohabey, Dr D. B. Malpe, Professor Sumedh Humane and Mr Mahesh Phalke. Dr Humane emphasised the importance of fossil study in geology for wider applications in professional fields. Dr Mohabey explained dinosaur fossils in Kota formation from Telangana, and Chui hills, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, and Dr Samaya Humane briefed students about career prospects for geoscientists. A fossil exhibition by GSI and Professor Bandana Samant’s display of a replica of Homo sapiens skull fossil in Narmada Valley and the dinosaur nesting fossil site/mineral specimens was interesting.
CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, under the aegis of the PSI Goa Chapter, celebrated the event on 17 October 2023 with students and researchers on the theme, ‘Fossils-Oceans-Climate’. About 50 students from four colleges/universities, namely Goa University, Dhempe College of Arts and Science, Miramar, Government College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Sanquelim, and Parvatibai Chowgule College of Arts and Science, participated. Dr Rajeev Saraswat and Dr R. Nigam interacted with students on applications of microfossils in monsoon studies, pollution monitoring, and archaeology with examples from Goa. The practical sessions focused on sediment/LBF sampling, and seawater collection for ambient parameters.
Department of Applied Geology, Dibrugarh University organized a lecture series in collaboration with the PSI from 16 to 20 October 2023. Professor Jahnabi Gogoi Nath, Vice Chancellor of Dibrugarh University inaugurated the Fossil week. Thanking Professor Gogoi for her facilitation and encouragement, Dr Sudhir Shukla welcomed Professor Ashok Sahni, the Guest Speaker, and other participants explaining the importance of fossils to the industry and society. Professor Sahni delivered the first lecture ‘The Last Days of the Dinosaurs in India and elsewhere’. On 19 October 2023 at Dibrugarh Government Boys’ Higher Secondary School, a lecture on ‘Fossils, what are they? Their importance in unfolding history of the earth’ was delivered by Dr Kalpana Deka Kalita, Professor, Department of Applied Geology. Professor Rajeev Patnaik, Centre of Advanced Studies in Geology, Panjab University spoke on ‘Palaeoclimate and Primate evolution’ on 19 October; and Dr Vandana Prasad, former Director, BSIP, Lucknow talked on ‘Evolution of tropical plants: evidence from Indian fossil records’. Dr Sanjay Srivastava, Nagaland University, and Ms. Persona Gogoi, Dibrugarh hosted the program.
Department of Geology, University of Madras organised the International Fossil Day celebration on 19 October 2023 with Dr S. M. Hussain, Professor, and Head, and Dr M. Suresh Gandhi, Professor, and sixty students and scholars from different departments. Shri. B. Ajay Kumar, DDG, GSI, Southern Region, Dr Ravindran, ex ONGC and Mr Chandramouli, GSI respectively talked on ‘Fossil Parks: An eye opener to understand the evolution of life in space and time’, and ‘Significance of mega fossils and their distribution with special reference to Geo-Heritage sites of India’.
In Nepal, Professor V. C. Tewari, formerly, Sikkim University, organised weeklong field work in Butwal–Tansen–Pokhara to Kathmandu section under the aegis of the PSI, Lucknow. Dr Kabiraj Paudyal, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu coordinated the fieldwork in the Lesser Himalaya of Nepal and studied Proterozoic stromatolites of the carbonate facies (Dhading Dolomite) and their relation in Astrobiological studies. Under the stewardship of Dr Ashutosh K. Singh, PSI, Delhi Student chapter celebrated International Fossil Week from 12 to 15 October 2023 organizing various activities such as, Paleofiesta: cultural events (classical), street play in different colleges, photo-walk and symposium for students. The main themes included: (a) A land-sea relationship is a major driver of coral reef health outcomes; (b) Timing and causes of ice age mammal extinctions; (c) Impacts of volcanic eruptions on Climate change and proxy records. Dr Rajani Panchang, Pune University, and associates along with Dr Tushar Kaushik, Agharkar Research Institute organized a fossil exhibition and open day where in-school students interacted and visited the museum. School students took a keen interest in learning about fossils and their importance so one can also make a career in the line. IFD and the 2nd day of Earth Science Week were celebrated with students, teachers, scientists and faculties of various schools, colleges, and universities at the BSIP, Lucknow. The event was organized by the Center for Promotion of Geo-Heritage and Geo-Tourism-BSIP to fill the knowledge gaps and bridge links between geoscientists and society. Dr Shilpa Pandey (Scientist & Convener, CPGG-BSIP) introduced the theme of the event, Professor M. G. Thakkar, Director BSIP, and other scientists and local school students participated in the event.
Sagar University, MP under the overall guidance of Professor V. K. Kathal arranged students’ programs with museum visits, lectures, and interactive sessions. Jammu University also arranged students’ programs with museum visits and interactive sessions under the able guidance of Professor Varun Parmar and associates. CUSB, in association with the PSI, Lucknow, also organised events for the benefit of students and researchers. Dr V. K. Singh, Dr Milan Kumar of Central University of South Bihar, Gaya, and other associates organised various events for the benefit of students.
On behalf of the Palaeontological Society of India, Dr Sudhir Shukla, thanked all the guest speakers, departments/student chapters, organizing members, and participants for making the 2023 events successful.