European Palaeobotany and Palynology Conference 2026

Vibrational spectroscopy has emerged as a versatile and powerful analytical toolkit for probing the molecular composition of modern and fossil plants, and palynomorphs. Infrared and Raman spectroscopy are non-destructive techniques providing complementary chemical fingerprints useful for answering key questions in: evolutionary paleobiology (via chemotaxonomy), paleoclimatology (via biomolecular proxies), thermal maturity assessment (via geomolecular thermometers), and molecular taphonomy (via tracking diagenetic and catagenetic alteration of biomolecules), etc. These techniques come in various specialized types—each with distinct advantages, limitations, and sampling requirements—that have benefited greatly from recent technological advances in both hardware and software. These methodological intricacies and rapid developments often present considerable barriers to researchers whose primary expertise lies outside vibrational spectroscopy, whether they are encountering these techniques for the first time or seeking to expand their existing analytical repertoire.

This poster provides: (1) a concise background on the fundamental principles of IR and Raman spectroscopy; (2) an illustrated methodological overview of specialized techniques relevant to paleobotanical and palynological research, including their respective advantages and limitations; and (3) an outlook on future research opportunities enabled by state-of-the-art vibrational spectroscopy. In doing so, it serves to accompany and provide methodological context for the talks in session 5 ("Probing biomolecules in plants and palynomorphs via vibrational spectroscopy: Methodological advancements and applications"), and includes references to the studies presented in this session and other relevant published works. More broadly, the poster aims to highlight the utility of vibrational spectroscopy approaches to inspire their wider adoption in paleobiological and palynological research.