European Geosciences Union
Division on Stratigraphy, Sedimentology and Palaeontology
President: Marc De Batist (ssp@egu.eu)
Deputy President: Stéphane Bodin
(stefbodin@gmail.com)
The Stratigraphy, Sedimentology and Palaeontology Division (SSP) focuses its activities on all aspects of the sedimentary record. About 70 % of the Earth surface is covered by sedimentary deposits, which are eroded and deposited right at the contact between the solid lithosphere and the atmosphere, biosphere and hydrosphere. Sedimentary rocks record the history of our planet since almost 4 billion of years and play a pivotal role for our understanding of the evolution of life. This deep-time archive of Earth history is studied with a wide range of analytical techniques providing ever stunning details on the evolution of our planet. Sedimentary basins host important natural resources like coal, gas, oil, ore deposits and groundwater and therefore a better understanding of the physical, chemical and biological processes controlling the formation and distribution of sediments and sedimentary rocks is of utmost importance for our society.
The 2021 Jean Baptiste Lamarck Medal is awarded to Andreas Strasser in recognition of his contributions to the study of shallow-water carbonates and for his success at merging carbonate sedimentology with cyclo- and sequence stratigraphy.
The 2021 Division Outstanding Early Career Scientist Award is awarded to Niels J. de Winter for his outstanding research on the application of µXRF analyses on biominerals to reconstruct palaeo-seasonality during past greenhouse climates.
The 2020 Jean Baptiste Lamarck Medal is awarded to Michael J. Benton in recognition of his outstanding contributions to vertebrate palaeontology, to palaeobiology and to macroevolution across times of extreme environmental change.
The 2020 Division Outstanding Early Career Scientist Award is awarded to Anna Joy Drury for her fundamental contributions to research on Miocene stable isotope stratigraphy, palaeoceanography and climate evolution.
In February The Loupe celebrates this month’s three successful missions to Mars, including the unique science and symbolism of the first Arab mission to the Red Planet. Because the data from this mission will be openly shared, it lets all scientists embark on an exciting journey to explore the secrets of our neighbouring planet’s atmosphere together. This issue features three EGU divisions: Geosciences Instrumentation and Data Systems (GI), Planetary and Solar System Sciences (PS), and Solar-Terrestrial Sciences (ST).
The Loupe also highlights everything you need to know about the vEGU21 scientific sessions, 5 key new initiatives the Union implemented in 2020, and two blogs with lighthearted tips for a greener EGU21 and some lessons you can take from this year’s virtual General Assembly to make your in-person conferences greener.
In addition to the latest Journal Watch and GeoRoundup of February EGU journal highlights, this issue also looks at what Union leaders hope they can achieve in the next few years and tackles the ‘rotten’ topic of how Europe should deal with its waste.