THE FOSSIL CERVID-DAY
14 - MARCH -2026
KU LEUVEN (ARENBERG CAMPUs)
The fossil 'Cervid-Day', is the first part of a unique duo-conference that will take place at the University of Leuven
(Arenberg Campus - Heverlee) on Saturday 14th March 2026. During this event, 7 experts will introduce and discuss the variety of Pleistocene deer who once roamed Nortwestern Europe during the Pleistocece epoch. This conference will have a follow-up meeting at the Natura Docet Museum in Denekamp (NL) on 6th june 2026 and can be attended by everyone who is interested. No prior knowledge is required and reduced fees apply to accomodate students to this unique event. Interested? find out more about our program, goodies, and activities on this webpage
CONFERENCE PROGRAM
Welcome to the program section of the 'Fossil Cervid-Day' the current program gives an overview of the timetable and all the activities taking place as well as the respective locations where they are held. Small changes can occur as a result of unforseen events but the general program wil remain as it is.
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For more information, please do not hesitate to contact Palaeontologigica Belgica via the contact page or by sending an e-mail. For the registration of your attendance we kindly advise you to go to the registration and payment page in order to formalise your attendance.
* All talks and tours will be in Dutch except for the keynote talk. *
SATURDAY 14 MARCH 2026
Location : Arenberg III Campus Heverlee - Quadrivium
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9H30: Welcome (opening of registrations) at the 01.01 'Rosalind Franklin' Auditorium
10H00: Welcome by conference president Prof. dr. Johan Vellekoop (KU Leuven)
10h10: An overview of the Belgian Pleistocene cervidae - Tristan Dedrie (UGENT)
10h40: The Belgian Fossil Elks - David Ameye (UGENT)
11h10: The Megaloceros Restoration Project - Anthonie Hellemond (Palaeontologica Belgica)
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* Move to the Geo-Institute across the campus (3 min walk)*
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11h40: Official inauguration of the KU Leuven Megaloceros in its new permananent residence (Geo-Institute)
12h00: Lunchbreak and start Poster Session
12h30: Start of the guided tour around the KU-leuven paleontological collection & fossil Identification stands
13h30: End of the lunchbreak, tour and identification stands
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* Move to the Quadrivium Auditorium across the campus (3 min walk)*
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14H00: Introduction of the afternoon program by president Prof. dr. Johan Vellekoop / Speijer (KU Leuven)
14h10: Presentation - Lecture by Dick Mol
14h40: Presentation - Lecture by Frans Roescher
15h10: Presentation - Lecture by Someone
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​15h40 Keynote Talk dr. Nigel Monaghan (Dublin Museum Of Natural History Ireland)
16h20: Q&A
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16h30: Closing Statement End of The Conference
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LOCATION & ACCESSiBILITY
The entire conference will take place at the Arenberg III university campus in Heverlee (Leuven). We encourage everyone to come by public transport. Cars can be parked at the parking Kapeldreef complex or some of the free parkings around the campus. We advise everyone to come on time as the conference starts at 10H00 sharp. Around the campus plenty of safe bicycle parking is equally available. Bussline 2 Leuven-Heverlee is the best line to get from the station (perron 6) to the campus. The Arenberg campus is the final stop on this line (Termius).
Quadrivium Rosalind Franklin Auditorium Geo-Institute
More than just a Conference
The Cervid-day conference will revolve around a lot more than presentations and (keynote)talks. We want to provide a truly memorable day for all our guests and attendees by proposing a number of additional activities which will contribute to the enjoyable atmosphere of this conference. Above all, this event will be an excellent opportunity to network, ask questions, meet many experts and researchers. We kindly invite you all to enjoy the wonderful things that Quarternary palaeontology has to offer.
POSTER PRESENTATIONS
During lunchtime we provide the opportunity to present posters on very diverse paleontological subjects. However, depeding on the number of poster submissions we will give priority to posters on Pleistocence fauna in general and on cervidae from all geological periods in particular. If you want to present or make a poster yourself, do not hesitate to contact the organisation for additional questions. We encourage students to try out and present their poster for a large audience of enthusiasts and experts. More information? mail: palaeontologica.belgica@gmail.com
Fossil Identification stands
Bring along your fossil enigmas to our event and let our team of experts have them identified. Depending on the amount of attendees who will be present for the identification, only a limited amount of fossils will allowed per person so everybody gets a chance to have their specimens identified. Not only quarternary fossils can be brought along, we also allow lithic artefacts (Archaeological), Geological specimens (rock samples) as well as fossils from the entire Phanerozoic. (Paleozoic-Mesozoic-Caenozoic) to be brought along. Make sure basic information is provided if possible (location, in situ -ex situ find, estimated age etc.). We provide magnification through binoculars and other optical instuments.
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Guided Tour Around The KU Leuven collections
As the oldest university of the country, the KU Leuven has a impressive history of scientific research in earth-sciences in general and paleontology in particular. Classic 19th century paleontologists such as Pierre-Joseph Van Beneden, Félix Kaisin, Henry de Dorlodot, Charles-Louis de La Vallée Poussin, Laurent-Guillaume de Koninck and many more, all worked on the paleontological collections that are still kept to this day in the numerous university-owned buildings inside and outside of the city of Leuven. We provide the attendees of the conference with a unique guided tour around the educational and stratigraphically organised collections of the geo-institute during lunchtime
formal inauguration of the Megaloceros SKELETON
As the unspoken star of the day and mascot of the paleotology collections, The Megaloceros giganteus skeleton will officially be presented to the audience. After it's journey as one of the eye-catchers in the temporaty exhibit 'Kennis In Zicht' at museum M, the Megaloceros will once again be placed at the core of the Geo-Institute. During the inauguration we will also reveal the name that was chosen by the hundred of visitors of the exhibit. Make sure not to miss this unique event just before lunchtime.
GOODIE BAG WITH A UNIQUE BOOK
As a conference is often a very ephemeral event in time, we want to provide a more lasting memento for all our attendees. This is why we supply a goodie bag with a unique book, comprising extended articles on all the topics of both conferences in Leuven en Denekamp. The book will be presented exclusively during this event and will feature a lot of beautiful recontructions, pictures and nice graphic layout. We spare no expense on this one as we deem that the knowledge on Pleistocene cervidae is something that deserves a pleasing and esthetical format. We are currently working hard to gather the latest data and research results on the diverse topics that will featured in this book.
LUNCH TIME FOOD & DRINKS
We will provide a simple sandwich lunch and drinks for all attendees, nothing complex but quick and easy in order that everyone can attend the lunchtime activities that will be proposed. In the registration form below, please specify any dietary restrictions or allergies, so we can take the required precautions and provide suitable alternatives.
PARTNERS & ASSOCIATES
This conference would never see the light of day without the support and commitment of multiple partners. We are very grateful to count following partners amongst our trusted collaborators
