The 10th edition of the European School on Ostracoda (ESO10) took place in Bucharest, Romania, from May 12 to May 16, 2025, hosted by the National Institute for Research and Development on Marine Geology and Geoecology – GeoEcoMar.
ESO10 was designed to offer early-career researchers (MSc students, PhD candidates, postdocs) and professionals from industry a comprehensive introduction to ostracoda. The curriculum covered key areas including taxonomy, (palaeo)ecology, biodiversity, geological history, and applied biostratigraphy of ostracods. Special attention was given to the relevance of ostracoda in micropalaeontology, palaeoceanography, palaeoclimatology, biology, and environmental sciences.
The course focused on both theoretical concepts and practical methodologies, addressing systematics, biostratigraphic applications, ecological interpretation, and life history traits of ostracods. It spans their evolutionary history from the Palaeozoic to the Holocene, also including modern faunas. Hands-on training was a central component, with case studies from both marine and continental environments, alongside laboratory sessions on identification, preparation, documentation, and analysis of ostracod specimens.
ESO10 was organized by Prof. Dr. Peter Frenzel (University of Jena, Germany) and PD Dr. Renate Matzke-Karasz (LMU München, Germany).
The training sessions were delivered by the following group of experts: Dr. Andrei Briceag, GeoEcoMar, Romania; Prof. Dr. Marie-Béatrice Forel, Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris, France; Prof. Dr. Peter Frenzel, University of Jena, Germany; Dr. Björn Holstein, IntegBiostrat, Wedemark, Germany; PD Dr. Renate Matzke-Karasz, LMU München, Germany; Dr. Ilaria Mazzini, CNR-IGAG, Monterotondo, Italy; Prof. Dr. Steffen Mischke, University of Iceland; Dr. Anna Pint, University of Jena, Germany; MSc Olga Schmitz, MPI-GEA, Jena, Germany; Prof. Dr. Marius Stoica, University of Bucharest, Romania; Dr. Anton Waltschew, Nuremberg, Germany; Dr. Bianca Pavel, GeoEcoMar, Romania.
ESO10 continues a successful tradition of fostering knowledge exchange and skills development in ostracod research, and offers an excellent opportunity for networking within the European micropalaeontological community.