SEQS

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Dear SEQS Colleagues!
We have some good news to announce:

• The XXII INQUA Congress “Quaternary Science as Societal Services” 
  will be held in Lucknow, India on 28 January – 3 February 2027 (https://inqua.org/).

Science Program Committee of XXII INQUA Congress 2027 approved two SEQS-related Sessions (https://www.inqua-seqs.org/meetings/):

Theme-2: Climate Archives

Session 41. European Quaternary landscapes and climate evolution: how stratigraphy and correlations can get us into the future changes and challenges.

Lead Convener: Markus Fiebig, BOKU University, Institute of Applied Geology, Department of Landscape, Water and Infrastructure, Vienna, Austria.
Co-Conveners:
Pierluigi Pieruccini, DST – Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra Università di Torino, Torino, Italy.
Adele Bertini, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra University of Firenze, Firenze, Italy.
Guzel Danukalova, Institute of Geology of the Ufimian Federal Research Centre, Russian Academy of Sciences, Ufa, Russia.
Eva Mencin Gale, Geological Survey of Slovenia, Regional geology, Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Theme-7: Synthesis-Data and Modelling

Session 150. Challenges of Quaternary Mapping, Correlation and Modelling on- and offshore.

Lead Convener: Kristine Asch, Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, Hannover, Germany.
Co-Convener: Markus Fiebig, BOKU University, Institute of Applied Geology, Department of Landscape, Water and Infrastructure, Vienna, Austria.

We kindly ask all interested colleagues to submit abstracts!

Abstract Submission Open

Researchers are invited to submit abstracts contributing to the scientific themes of the XXII INQUA Congress. Accepted abstracts will be scheduled as either oral or poster presentations within designated sessions.

Abstract submissions must be completed through the Congress website.

• The SEQS meeting 2026 will be held from 21-25.09.2026 in Castelnuovo del Garda (Italy), locally organized by Giovanni Monegato and Giancarlo Scardia.

The first circular will be circulated soon.

• The Quaternary International Special Issues

Ongoing SI: “Eurasia, two continents – one common past: Quaternary cross-continental stratigraphic records of landscape and paleoenvironmental changes” with 4 published papers and 9 under review.

 Upcoming SI in 2026: “Quaternary stratigraphy and Quaternary maps as a base to understand the environment of mankind” with 22 proposed manuscripts is almost ready to be submitted to the Journal.

• Offer for a PhD

PhD opportunity for international candidates in Geochronology and Paleomagnetism of an ICDP core at São Paulo State University (UNESP, Brazil)

São Paulo State University (UNESP) invites applications from international candidates for a PhD position focused on Quaternary Geochronology and Paleomagnetism of an ICDP core. This research is part of a broader international collaboration investigating the glacial history and tectonic evolution of the Overdeepened Alpine Valleys (ICDP-DOVE project; https://www.dove-icdp.eu/).

The PhD candidate will work on a sedimentary succession to be recovered through the ICDP-DOVE deep-drilling initiative in the eastern sector of Lake Garda (Northern Italy). The project integrates three complementary and partially overlapping chronostratigraphic approaches: luminescence dating of the upper core interval, cosmogenic nuclide burial dating of the lower core interval, and paleomagnetic analysis of the entire core. Together, these datasets will allow to establish the necessary chronological framework for interpreting glacial dynamics, depositional processes, and landscape evolution in a tectonically active sector of the Alpine foreland.

The successful candidate will contribute to answer the following research questions: What is the age of the glacial sequences preserved in the Lake Garda amphitheater? Does the core record a continuous succession of Marine Isotope Stages (MIS), or only the major glaciations? How are glacial landforms preserved in regions affected by active tectonics?

The PhD research will be supervised by Prof. Giancarlo Scardia (UNESP, Brazil), in collaboration with Profs. Fiebig and Lüthgens, and Dr. Neuhuber (BOKU University, Austria). The project includes substantial interaction with international ICDP-DOVE teams, fieldwork in Italy, and laboratory activities in Brazil and Austria. The successful candidate will enroll in UNESP post-graduation program in Rio Claro (São Paulo, Brazil), with coursework delivered in Portuguese. Scholarship and international mobility will be provided through applications to São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP, Brazil) and Ernst Mach Worldwide mobility grants (ÖAD, Austria), starting on February 2026.

Candidates must have a solid background in Geology, Geophysics, or Physical Geography. Previous experience in Quaternary Geology, Geochronology, or Paleomagnetism is desirable but not essential.

How to Apply

Applicants should submit:
1. Motivation letter (1–2 pages) outlining interests and relevant experience.
2. CV with academic transcripts.
3.Names and contacts of 2–3 referees.

Send your application or questions to Giancarlo Scardia (giancarlo.scardia@unesp.br)
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

We wish you all the best in New 2026 year
and a Merry Christmas time!

Guzel, Eva, Pierluigi and Markus
SEQS-board,
December 18, 2025

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The Section on European Quaternary Stratigraphy (SEQS) is an inter-disciplinary international working group of Quaternary scientists devoted to study stratigraphy and classification of the Quaternary Period in Europe, the last 2.6 million years of Earth’s history.

The SEQS merges a variety of scientists targeting various aspects of Quaternary stratigraphy. The main aim of the group is to provide a platform for Quaternary scientists across Europe to connect and collaborate.

The scientific and networking activities of SEQS group are carried out through regular meetings, joint projects, websites, and publications of special issues.

The group also aims to cooperate with local institutions such as geoparks, universities and research institutes. The meetings enable networking among Quaternary scientists, providing a foundation for common projects, publications, and international exchanges.

Through its annual meetings, SEQS seeks to cover a wide range of topics, including Quaternary stratigraphy, geochronology, palaeoecology, sedimentary archives, glaciations, speleology, evolution, and many other related subjects. With this diversity the SEQS aims to bring together scientists working in a different topic to provide a comprehensive approach to understanding the Quaternary period.

INQUA-SEQS 2025 meeting in Vienna, Austria. Photo taken near the Natural History Museum. Courtesy and © Alessandro Fontana

INQUA-SEQS 2024 meeting in Gavorrano, Italy. Photo taken in front of the headquaters of the Colline Metallifere National Park. Courtesy and © Markus Fiebig

INQUA-SEQS 2019 Session during INQUA Congress, Ireland. © Guzel Danukalova

INQUA-SEQS 2018 Meeting – Slovenia, September 2018. Photo taken at the Chrnotice Quarry. Courtesy and © of Guzel Danukalova

INQUA-SEQS 2016 Meeting – Armenia, September 2016. Photo taken at the Haghtamak 3 archaeological site. Courtesy and © of Edmond Grigoryan

INQUA-SEQS 2015 Session during INQUA Congress, Japan.  © Guzel Danukalova

INQUA-SEQS 2014 Meeting – Russia, September 2014. Photo taken at the Baturino quarry, Chelyabinsk Region, Southern Trans-Urals. Courtesy and © of Guzel Danukalova

INQUA-SEQS 2013 Meeting – Romania, September 2013. Photo taken during conference in GeoEcoMar Institute, Constanta. Courtesy and © of Guzel Danukalova

INQUA-SEQS 2012 Meeting – Sardinia, September 2012. Photo taken at the Tyrrhenian Type Section on Cala Mosca, Sardinia. Courtesy and © of Jeroen Schokker