Welcome to NIGPAS website!  

Nanjing Institute of Geology and paleontology, CAS, was formally founded on May 7, 1951, with its root in the former Paleontological Section, Institute of Geology (Academia Sinica) and in the Paleontological Group of the Geological Survey of China. It is the only academic institution specialized in invertebrate palaeontology and palaeobotany in China, the largest such research organization in Asia, and is said to be one of the best research institutions of palaeontology and stratigraphy in the world, thanks to the untiring effort made by generations of enthusiastic scientists in the institute and also to our collaborators and supporters throughout the world.  

The institute is engaged in basic and applied basic researches in palaeontology and stratigraphy and in public science communication. It is equipped with modern observational and analytical facilities for studies of fossil and sedimentary strata, a large collection of type specimens and a superb library treasured with long time collection of literature in our specialty. We are interested in international academic exchange, research collaboration and cooperation in graduate education. The State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, established within the institute, is an open platform for visiting research and collaboration.   

We pay particular attention to training next generation of researchers via the graduate studies program for MS, PhD and the postdoctoral program, which are open to applicants throughout China and from other countries.   

The current active research topics/areas of the institute include systematic taxonomy of various fossil groups, the global stratotype sections and points (Palaeozoic) and integrative stratigraphy, Neoproterozoic palaeobiology (Nantuo, Doushantuo and Dengying Formations) and the origin of multicellarity and animals, the early Cambrian biota (Chengjiang related faunas) and the "Cambrian explosion”, Ordovician radiation, extinction and recovery, the late Permian extinction events (quantitative analyses and biomarkers), early vascular plants and Cathayan flora, and the systematic and evolution of Mesozoic gingkos, angiosperms and ferns, Mesozoic lacustrine ecosystem, Neogene environmental changes based on fossil record, biodiversity changes based on Chinese record, phylochronology combining fossil and molecules. A Basic Research Department is constituted within the institute, focused on the studies of Palaeobotany, Palynology, Micropaleontology, and Invertebrate Paleontology. A CAS Key Laboratory of Economic Stratigraphy and Palaeogeography is also established, aimed at basic researches in geological exploration for fossil energy and other resources. 

We have a public outreach program that includes the Museum of Palaeontology, the popular magazine “Life and Evolution”, and the award-winning e-magazine and forum “Fossil Web”.