The Research Group on the Cenozoic Palynology mainly focuses on palynofloras from Palaeogene to Quaternary, Cenozoic vegetation history and climate changes, systematic palynology and pollen morphology, and archaeological palynology and associated environmental background. 

　　The history of research group can be traced back to early 1950s (the first palynological laboratory in China was established around 1953 at NIGPAS). Early well-known Palynological pioneers include former academician Jen Hsü (1910-1992), and late professor SONG Zhichen (1929-2017). The team now consists of 2 full professors (one of them is WANG Weiming, vice president of International Federation of Palynological Societies), 2 associate professors, 1 assistant research professor, 1 technician and 4 graduate students. Currently the group is working on 7 key academic themes as follows: 

　　1) Plant evolution and environment drivers in some important geological periods of Cenozoic (Principal Investigator: WANG Weiming);  　　  

　　2) Comparative study on Neogene basalt sedimentary intercalations and fossil floras in Fujian and Zhejiang region, and the Penghu Islands (PI: WANG Weiming);  

　　3) Vegetation and environment in the Neolithic-Palaeolithic transition period of Yunnan (PI: WANG Weiming); 

　　4) Quaternary vegetation history, fire regime, and climate changes in eastern China, particularly from the Last Glacial Maximum to Holocene (PI: SHU Junwu and CHEN Wei);  

　　5) Systematic Palynology and pollen morphology (PI: MAO Limi); 

　　6) Tropical mangrove Palynology and geological history of mangrove biogeography (PI: MAO Limi); 

　　7) Archaeological Palynology and environmental background of Neolithic rice farming (PI: SHU Junwu). 

　　The members of the research group have been extensively collaborating with international colleagues, and have also been actively exchanging scientific discoveries in many international conferences or symposia. The research group particularly welcomes young international scientists to carry out collaborations in all aspects of Cenozoic palynology, as well as interdisciplinary subjects.  

　　Recent projects of the group are mainly funded by NSFC and CAS, including five-year project on plant evolution and environmental drivers in some important geological periods of Cenozoic.