The symposium and annual meeting will be held at the Egidio Feruglio Paleontological Museum (MEF) and its newly inaugurated Trelew Convention Center (MEF- TCC), located in the heart of Trelew, Chubut Province, Patagonia. This modern facility is part of the MEF’s recent expansion, which has tripled the museum’s exhibit space and added state-of-the-art infrastructure for academic and scientific events.
The Convention Center includes a main auditorium for over 800 people, several fully equipped breakout rooms, cutting-edge audiovisual technology, full accessibility for people with reduced mobility, and communal areas for networking and relaxation. Its downtown location offers easy access to accommodations, transportation hubs, and local restaurants.
The MEF itself is one of Latin America’s most prominent scientific institutions, housing a world-renowned paleontological collection.
MEF collections
MEF main exhibition room. Patagotitan mayorum
Its permanent exhibitions trace the history of life on Earth—from its origins to the present—and feature iconic specimens such as Patagotitan mayorum, the largest dinosaur known to date. In addition to its renewed galleries, the museum includes research labs, educational areas, and a visitor center with a museum shop and café.
Feruglio coffee shop
Just across the street, the National University of Patagonia San Juan Bosco (Trelew campus) hosts the Trelew Herbarium and the Melissopalynology Laboratory, both of which will be available for visits during the meeting.
The meeting will be convened by the following organizing committee:
CHAIR: Ignacio Escapa (MEF, Trelew, Argentina)
CO-CHAIR: Paula Narváez (IANIGLA, CCT-CONICET-Mendoza, Argentina)
COLLABORATORS (in aphabetical order)
Marisol Beltrán (INIBIOMA-CONICET)
Josefina Bodnar (UNLP / UNMdP-CONICET)
Daniela Anabel Calderón (UNPSJB)
Sonia Clara Camina (IANIGLA, CCT-CONICET-Mendoza, Argentina)
Eleonora Inés Cavagna (IANIGLA, CCT-CONICET-Mendoza, Argentina)
Facundo De Benedetti (MEF-CONICET)
Damián Andrés Fernández (CADIC-CONICET; ICPA-UNTDF)
Cynthia Cristina González (UNPSJB)
Ari Iglesias (INIBIOMA-CONICET)
Antonella Melisa Lista (UNPSJB-CONICET)
Magdalena Llorens (UNPSJB-CONICET)
Laila Miguel (UNNE-CONICET)
Sebastián Alejandro Molano Cavieles (MEF)
María Gabriela Murray (INBIOSUR-CONICET-UNS)
Lorena Laura Musotto (INGEOSUR-CONICET-UNS)
Giovanni Cristian Nunes (MEF-CONICET)
Daniela E. Olivera (INGEOSUR-CONICET-UNS)
Noelia Nuñez Otaño (CICYTTP-CONICET)
Luis Palazzesi (MACN-CONICET)
Mauro G. Passalia (INIBIOMA-CONICET)
Micaela Belén Peral (UNPSJB)
Gastón Ezequiel Ponce (UNPSJB)
Cristina Renee Salgado Laurenti (UNNE-CONICET)
Adolfina Savoretti (CIT-TDF-CONICET / ICPA UNTDF)
Eva M. Silva (INIBIOMA-CONICET)
Patricia Lorena Simon (UNPSJB-APN-CONICET)
Sandra Sobrado (UNNE-CONICET)
Gonzalo Román Torres (INECOA-CONICET)
Maria Soledad Vázquez (UNLC)
For information please reach out to aaspmeetings@gmail.com or trelew2026@gmail.com
Patagonia is a key region for the natural sciences in the Southern Hemisphere. Its mix of steppes, mountains, sea shores, and well-preserved geological history makes it a reference area for paleontological research. Fossil sites across the region provide exceptional records that are essential for reconstructing the evolution of ecosystems and biotas from the southern continents.
Puerto Pirámides, Chubut, Patagonia
Valley of the Chubut River, Chubut, Patagonia
Located in the center of this vast region, within the valley of the Chubut River and close to the Atlantic Ocean, Trelew offers a unique environment for the development, communication, and circulation of scientific and cultural knowledge. It is situated approximately 60 km from Puerto Madryn, 17 km from Rawson, and 15 km from Gaiman. The city has daily flights to and from Buenos Aires via the Almirante Marcos A. Zar International Airport (Trelew), and additional air connections through El Tehuelche Airport (Puerto Madryn). Trelew also has a regional and national bus terminal, along with a wide range of accommodation, gastronomy, and services, making it a suitable location for scientific meetings of both national and international scale.
Trelew Astronomical Center
In addition to hosting the Egidio Feruglio Paleontological Museum (MEF), Trelew stands out as a hub of knowledge in Patagonia. Just steps away, the Astronomical Center of Trelew offers stargazing experiences and educational programs that connect the region’s past to the cosmos.
The Pueblo de Luis Museum tells the story of the region and Welsh immigration, located in the former airport; and the Municipal Museum of Visual Arts, which hosts exhibitions of contemporary and Patagonian art. These institutions form part of a local network of educational, scientific, and cultural spaces that connect knowledge production with the broader community.
Patagotitan mayorum
The city features life-sized replicas of two giants from the Cretaceous: Patagotitan mayorum, considered the largest land animal ever discovered, and Tyrannotitan chubutensis, one of the largest known carnivorous dinosaurs. These installations highlight Trelew’s close relationship with its paleontological heritage. All of this unfolds in an evolving urban landscape shaped by history, nature, and a growing orientation toward international scientific exchange.
Natural Reserve Cacique Chiquichano Lagoon
Trelew is also recognized as a wetland city, with the nearby Cacique Chiquichano Lagoon providing a vital habitat for migratory birds and making it a prime destination for ornithologists and nature lovers alike.
Its historical roots are reflected in the mixture of the Patagonian native peoples’ heritage and the legacy of Welsh immigration, visible in the nearby towns of Gaiman and Dolavon, and in the city’s ongoing relationship with wool production, which remains a key cultural and economic activity.
Magellanic penguins at Punta Tombo
From Trelew, visitors can easily access some of Patagonia’s most iconic destinations: Puerto Madryn and the Península Valdés—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—offer unforgettable wildlife encounters, including southern right whales. Punta Tombo, the world’s largest colony of Magellanic penguins, lies just to the south.
With its blend of science, culture, and biodiversity, Trelew invites visitors to explore the extraordinary stories of Patagonia—both ancient and living.
Preliminar schedule:
Tuesday September 8th Arrival in Trelew, ice-breaker in the afteroon at the MEF
Wednesday-Friday September 9th-11th
– A three-day conference (talks and posters)
– Early-Career-Scientist (ECR) event on Wednesday at lunch
– Business Luncheon on Thursday at Lunch
– Conference dinner on Thursday evening
– Mentoring event for ECR’s after the Closing Ceremony
Saturday September 12th: Post-conference field trip (one full day)
All details on sessions and talk schedule will be posted in August 2026, once all abstracts have been received.