Seeing the Pollen’s Eye View: Modelling Pollen Dispersal and Deposition

Computer simulation and computer-enabled analysis of data are increasingly the norm in ecological research, including palaeoecology. A range of specialist tools and approaches have been developed for reconstructing vegetation cover from pollen data (probably the most widely used technique in palaeoecology). These approaches are producing significant and valuable insights, such as maps of quantitative abundance of land cover classes across Western Europe at key age points in the last 6000 years, or percentage estimates of the loss or gain of woodland cover at selected points of cultural change. These translated pollen-based results improve communication and knowledge exchange with other types of ecologist, climate modellers and archaeologists, and help palaeoecologists develop testable hypotheses for future research. The three facilitators have been closely involved in the development of these methods and their application through international research programmes (most recently the PAGES Working Group Landcover 6k), and we hope that this event will enable more palaeoecologists to add these methods to their toolkit or to better understand and use the outputs of such programmes.

As with most novel analytical techniques, the first steps of understanding theory and beginning to use software can be difficult and off-putting – this workshop aims to help attendees overcome those barriers. The workshop will be suitable both for pollen analysts and for users of published pollen data.

Programme

Workshop days will run from 10:00-16:00 BST, and consist of presentations and opportunities to do practical work. Presentations will be recorded enabling those in different time zones to catch up if needed throughout the week.

On Wednesday 18 May, there will be a change of pace with a seminar day with multiple speakers, running 10:00-15:00 BST – this is included in the workshop fee, but also open for separate booking, for those who cannot attend the full workshop or are not interested in the details. If interested in presenting a snapshot of your work with pollen dispersal and deposition models, please get in touch.

Registration

Registration deadline extended until 23:59 (BST) Monday 9 May 2022.

Please note that purchase of a ticket for the workshop includes access to the seminar day, so there is no need to purchase the seminar ticket additionally.

If you would like to attend the seminar day only, then please purchase the tickets titled Seminar Day.

Register here