The 7th International Brachiopod Congress (IBC 7) was held in Nanjing China between May 23 and 25, 2015, and hosted by NIGPAS. The theme of the congress is “The Brachiopod World”, and the conference venue was at Liuyuan Hotel.

The Congress includes two and half days Academic Sessions with plenary speeches, keynote talks, scientific sessions and posters, half day mid-conference field excursion, and 4 days post-conference field excursions (three different destinations). Scientists around the world who are interested in fossil and living brachiopods and related topics were invited to attend the IBC 7. Registered delegates include 53 from 19 countries and regions outside mainland China as well as more than 50 domestic representatives. Altogether over 63 talks and 31 posters presentations were arranged, ranging the wide scope of the current progress in brachiopod studies in the world.

The Organizing Committee has provided financial support to 18 young overseas delegates, and to more than 10 senior brachiopod experts within China. Sponsors of this meeting include the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Jiangsu Association for Science and Technology, the State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, and the State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics.