This May marks the 25th anniversary of establishing the Museum of Inclusion in Amber at the Faculty of Biology of the University of Gdańsk. To mark the occasion, the Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Parasitology of the Faculty of Biology at the University of Gdańsk organised an international conference, Fossil Record in Resins and Sediments, and on its first day, the museum's anniversary was celebrated with an anniversary cake.
The primary mission of the Museum of Inclusions in Amber, established at the WB in 1998, is to collect and preserve fossils preserved in fossil resins, conduct scientific research, collect natural varieties and forms of amber and conduct educational activities.
The Fossil Record in Resins and Sediments conference, which began on May 23 in the Auditorium Biologicum of the Faculty of Biology, UG, was chaired by dr hab. Jacek Szwedo, prof. UG. It was opened by the Rector of the University of Gdańsk, prof. Piotr Stepnowski, who welcomed the guests and emphasised the uniqueness of the laboratory and its scientific value: - The University of Gdańsk is in possession of many pearls, and one of them is undoubtedly the Department of Biology and the Museum of Inclusions in Amber.
The Rector of the University of Gdańsk then presented dr Elżbieta Sontag with the University of Gdańsk's Bene merito et merenti bronze medal.
Dr Elżbieta Sontag spoke next.
- Twenty-five years ago, at the Faculty of Biology, in the Department of Invertebrate Zoology, the Museum of Inclusion in Amber workshop was established. One day, the dream of members of two organisations - scientists dealing with fossils preserved in fossil resins and amber scientists working with amber daily - came true, said dr Elżbieta Sontag. - 25 years ago was a special time. The amber industry was thriving in Gdańsk and Pomerania. The International Amber Association was active, and the Amberif trade fair was taking place. Polish universities, including the University of Gdańsk, had scientists who described and studied insects preserved in fossil resins. The Museum of Inclusion in Amber was a common idea and a response to the environment's needs. We must be aware that none of this would have happened; we would not be meeting today without your cooperation, openness and trust.
After hearing a presentation on the museum's history, donors and those involved in the museum's creation were thanked for their cooperation and for donating amber to the university's collection. Conference participants were treated to an anniversary cake.
Fossil Record in Resins and Sediments began today at WB UG. The conference was funded by the 'Scientific Excellence' programme of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Poland. It is organised by the Evolutionary Entomology Laboratory and the Museum of Inclusion in Amber in the Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Parasitology at the Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk.
