The symposium was held in Chengdu, China, June 6 and 7, 2000. It was followed by an interesting 7-day field trip to the Tibetan Plateau. The meeting was sponsored by the Work Group on Asian Glaciation of the INQUA Commission on Glaciation, and IGCP Project 415. Scientists from the Quaternary Glacial & Environmental Research Center of China, of Lanzhou University, in addition to the Lanzhou Institute of Glaciology and Geocryology , and the Chengdu Institute of Calamity & Environment, which are both in the Chinese Academy of Sciences. About 35 scientists from 6 countries attended the symposium. (Click here for group photo).
 

The focus of the conference was on the extent, sequence, and timing of Quaternary Glaciations in Monsoonal Asia. A major focus of debate was the presence or absence of a large ice sheet over the Tibetan Plateau at the last glacial maximum. There appears to be good agreement that there was extensive alpine glaciation and several ice caps in the eastern Tibetan Plateau. Evidence of an extensive ice sheet is more difficult to find, and that was the focus of debate, especially on the field trip. Discussions on the trip have led to a proposal for a symposium for the next INQUA Congress sponsored by the Commission on Glaciation with the topic: Problematic Glaciation---indicators of the extent and thickness of past ice in areas with limited evidence.
 

The field workshop was held mainly in Southeastern Tibetan Plateau, where we enjoyed beautiful and varied glacial terrain left by mountain glaciers and small ice sheets during different times of the Quaternary. The excursion went west from Chengdu through Kangding, Yajiang, Litang, Daocheng . North of Daocheng we examined glacial landforms and sediments of a late glacial maximum ice cap with having an area of about 3000km2 (click here for route map).
 

A book of abstracts was available at the Symposium (click here for Program of presentations). Copies can be requested from: Professor Zhou Shangzhe by E-mail (zhsz@lzu.edu.cn), or regular mail. The program is on the web at: Symposium papers will be published in " Quaternary International". Manuscripts for publication are due to Professor Zhou by the end of September.

The conference was supported financially by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Department of Education of China, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou University, and INQUA..

Thanks to all of the organizers!

Presidents :
Prof. Shi Yafeng ( Lanzhou Institute of Glaciology & Geocryology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, liggzhc@ns.lzb.ac.cn )
Prof,.Nat Rutter ( Dept. of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, Univ. of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2E3: nat.rutter@ualberta.ca )

Secretary :
Prof. Zhou Shangzhe ( Dept. of Geography, Lanzhou Univ.: zhsz@lzu.edu.cn)
Prof. Liu Shijian (Chengdu Institute of Calamity & Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciencesá imhe@mail.sc.cninfo.net )

Organizing Committee Members :

Prof. Li Jijun ( Dept. of Geography, Lanzhou Univ. China: lijj@lzu.edu.cn)
Prof. Dave Mickelson ( Dept. of Geology, Univ. of Wisconsin: mickelson@geology.wisc.edu )
Prof. Cui Zhijiu ( Dept. of Geography, Beijing Univ. China: Czjpku@263.net )
Prof. JimTeller ( Dept. of Earth Science,Univ. of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada: ji-teller@umanitoba.ca )
Prof.Edward Derbyshire (Dept. of Geography, Holloway College, Univ. of London :100666.1577@compuserve.com )
Prof. Rein Vaikmae ( Institute of Geology, Tallin Univ., Estonia: vaikmae@gi.ee )
Prof. Yug Ono( Hokkaido Univ,Sapporo,Japan: Yugo@en.hines.hokudai.ac.jp )
Prof. Zhenbenxing (Lanzhou Institute of Glaciology & Geocryology, Chinese Academy of Sciences China )
Prof. M. Kuhle ( Univ. of Goettingen, Germany:áá Liturri@gwdg.de )
Prof. Yao Tandong (Lanzhou Institute of Glaciology & Geocryology, Chinese Academy of Sciences,China: tdyao@ns.lzb.ac.cn )
Prof.Fang Xiaomin( Dept. of Geography, Lanzhou Univ. China: xmfang@lzu.edu.cná )
Prof. Frank Lehmkuhl ( Germany , Geograpisches Inst., U. Gottingen, Germany)