Since 1963, conferences on living and fossil ostracods have been organized regularly for experts to promote international dialogue and stimulate the exchange of research ideas. Personal communication and multinational cooperation helped bridge the gap between biologists and geologists. Over time, a strong and respected network of ostracod researchers from all nations and geological eras emerged.

The main conference of our scientific community is the International Symposium on Ostracoda (ISO), which now takes place every four years. In recent years, around 150 members of the International Research Group on Ostracods use to participate in this conference. Up to ISO17 in 2013, scientific contributions have been published as peer-reviewed research articles in special editions of international journals.

Since 1989, the European Ostracodologists‘ Meeting (EOM) also takes place every four years, alternating with the ISO conferences. The EOM is organized by European hosts and also attracts colleagues from all over the world. As a counterpart, since 2014, the Asian Ostracodologist’s meeting is being organized by Asian hosts regularly for international participants.

Several other regional meetings are being organized in different language areas to strengthen the national and regional networks of ostracodologists and to encourage young researchers to enter the fascinating world of ostracods.