Discovering a Global Phytolith Community: My First IMPR Experience in Barcelona
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- November 6, 2025
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A Week in the Heart of Phytolith Research
The 14th International Meeting on Phytolith Research (IMPR), held from 14–19 July 2025 in Barcelona, Spain, marked a major milestone in my research journey. As a first-time attendee and presenter, I was both exhilarated and humbled to find myself surrounded by scholars whose work I had long admired. Hosted at the Institució Milà i Fontanals de Recerca en Humanitats (IMF-CSIC), the meeting gathered scientists from over 30 countries-each contributing to the expanding landscape of phytolith research, from taxonomy to climate reconstruction.
From the opening keynote by Débora Zurro, which traced the field’s evolution from Madrid 1996 to Barcelona 2025, it was evident that phytolith research has come of age-integrating archaeology, ecology, data science, and open collaboration into a vibrant interdisciplinary community.
Immersed in Learning: Workshops and Open Science Clinics
The conference began with hands-on workshops on 14 July, which proved invaluable for a first-timer like me. I joined the Phytolith Morphometry Workshop, led by Welmoed Out, Rand Evett, Rosalie Hermans, Javier Ruiz-Pérez, and Robert Power, hosted at IMF-CSIC. Before arriving, participants were asked to prepare by installing ImageJ, 3D Slicer, and MeshLab, and to read foundational papers such as Ball et al. (2016) and Portillo et al. (2020). This preparatory work paid off: during the workshop, we explored both 2D morphometric analysis using the ImageJ plugin and 3D modelling of phytoliths. For someone primarily trained in palaeoenvironmental analysis, these sessions were an eye-opener, highlighting the precision and potential of quantitative morphometry in distinguishing phytolith types.
Equally inspiring were the Open Science Clinics, hosted by the International Committee on Open Phytolith Science (ICOPS) throughout the week. These informal sessions offered one-on-one advice on implementing FAIR data standards, using collaborative repositories, and ensuring transparency in research. It was refreshing to see the IMPR community championing openness and accessibility in scientific practice.
My Presentation: Exploring the Baviaanskloof Record
My oral presentation, “Reconstructing Past Environments: A New Phytolith Record Covering the Holocene from the Baviaanskloof, Southern Cape Interior, South Africa”, was part of the Palaeosciences 2 session on Wednesday, 16 July 2025. Standing before an audience of experts was initially nerve-wracking, but the collegial atmosphere quickly eased my nerves. My research—developed with I. Esteban, B.A. Grobler, A. Carr, and L.J. Quick-focused on a newly analysed sequence (BBH-2) from the Baviaanskloof Blue Hills Reserve in South Africa, a transitional ecological zone influenced by both temperate and tropical climate systems.
The study revealed:
- A continuous Holocene record (~10 000 years) providing insights into shifts in vegetation and climate.
- Clear transitions in phytolith morphotypes-from trapeziforms dominant in Renosterveld to lobates characteristic of Fynbos communities.
- Comparisons with other regional records, such as KMR (Scott et al. 2021) and BK-2-2 (Chase et al. 2024), underscored the spatio-temporal complexity of climate dynamics in southern Africa.
Feedback from colleagues was incredibly constructive-many were intrigued by the combination of phytolith, diatom, and macrocharcoal data in reconstructing past environments. The discussions sparked ideas for future cross-regional collaborations, including the integration of isotopic proxies and 3D phytolith modelling techniques.
Conversations Beyond the Sessions
Beyond the lectures and posters, the IMPR’s magic truly unfolded in its coffee breaks, roundtables, and evening gatherings in Barcelona’s historic Gothic Quarter. Conversations flowed easily-from discussions about morphotype classification systems to the best tapas spots in El Raval.
As a first-time participant, I was struck by the intergenerational exchange within the phytolith community: early-career researchers presenting innovative methods alongside senior scholars who had shaped the field since the 1990s. The sense of mentorship and openness was palpable-an affirmation that this community not only values science but also shared growth.
Reflections and Takeaways
Leaving Barcelona, I felt both intellectually enriched and personally transformed. The IMPR wasn’t just a conference-it was an immersive experience in collaboration, curiosity, and scientific generosity.
Key takeaways for me included:
- The power of morphometric and 3D visualization tools in refining phytolith classification.
- The importance of open data and reproducibility, as championed by ICOPS.
- A renewed appreciation for the global relevance of regional studies-how a record from South Africa contributes to broader narratives of Holocene climate change.
For anyone new to phytolith research, attending the IMPR offers not just knowledge but community. My first IMPR has set a new benchmark for what a scientific meeting can be: rigorous, inclusive, and inspiringly forward-looking.
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An on-site report submitted by IPS member:
Marishka Govender
First year PhD student
The Palaeoecology Laboratory at Nelson Mandela University
Gqeberba, South Africa