
10th INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS of
tidal sedimentology
improving energy recovery, protecting environment, predicting climate changes
Matera, Italy, 5-7 October 2021
Aula Magna of the Campus of the University of Basilicata
The 10th edition of the international Congress of Tidal Sedimentology will be held in Matera (Basilicata, southern Italy) from October 5th to 7th 2021.
The TIDALITES conference is a recurrent event from about forty years, repeated approximately every four years in different countries of the world and attracting participants from many universities, research centers and industries.
TIDALITES 2021 has the ambitious goal of drawing the attention of the local and international scientific community to three fundamental aspects:
Energy
The study of ancient tidal systems preserved in outcrop and subsurface is crucial for the optimization of the exploitation of natural resources, such as water, oil and natural gas, as well as for the use of these same reservoirs for Carbon Capture and Storage. Additionally, understanding the sedimentary dynamics in marine areas naturally designated for the exploitation of tidal power is essential for risk reduction and implementation of renewable energy production techniques.
Environment
The protection of the current coastal environment is strongly threatened by a combination of natural phenomena, such as coastal erosion, and the pressure deriving from anthropogenic activities. Scientific research on the sedimentary dynamics of coastal environments becomes strategic for a correct and sustainable territorial planning and use of littoral areas.
Climate
The ongoing climate changes are rapidly altering the oceanographic setting of coastal areas, so that the predictability of tidal processes and their impact on the coasts is one of the new challenges for many countries. The study of the effects of these changes on modern tidal systems and the possible technical solutions represent another breakthrough research topic for the near future.
TIDALITES 2021 wants to draw the attention of technical researchers, promotion agencies, industries and potential partners, who may benefit from the scientific knowledge that tidal scientists all over the world are achieving, turning them into advantages for the world community.
The conference will take place in the Aula Magna of the Campus of the University of Basilicata, very close to the heart of the amazing ancient city of Matera, in the sunny southern Italy. During the three days of meeting, oral and poster contributions will be presented within thematic sessions, promoting lively discussions among the scientific community.
As usual, 2-3-days-long field trips will precede and follow the conference. They will give the opportunity to visit modern tidal environments along some of the coasts of the peninsula, as well as to discover some of the best-exposed tidalite-bearing outcrop successions of Italy and outside of Italy.
Greeting from Tidalites 2021
In these difficult times for many countries of the world, the Tidalites 2021’s Organizing Committee would like to wish you happy holidays, but above all, in full health. We take this opportunity to renew our […]
Tidalites 2021
Following the original schedule, the 10th International Congress of Tidal Sedimentology would have been held during the last few days. For sure, we could have benefited from beautiful weather conditions, here in southern Italy. Nevertheless, we […]
Announcement of the new dates for Tidalites 2021
After the postponement of Tidalites 2020 due to the pandemic crisis that has affected Italy and many other countries in the World, we are glad to announce the new dates of the 10th International Congress […]
Postponement of Tidalites due to the Coronavirus world emergence
Because of the growing concern related with the diffusion of the Coronavirus, and the consequent isolation of an important part of the scientific community that traditionally contributes to Tidalites, we regret to inform you that […]

Dates and Venue
Dates
Tidalites 2021 will take place from October 2nd to 10th. This period includes both conference days and excursions. In particular, the meeting will take place from October 5th (Tuesday) to October 7th (Thursday). It will be preceded and followed by field trips (see the proposed list below). The pre-congress excursions will take place from October 2nd to 4th; the post-congress ones, from October 8th to 10th. Circulars and news will be released every three months. Dates for abstract submission and instructions for authors will be announced in early 2021.Venue
Field trips
Field trips will be 2-3-days long, including the transfer to, and from Matera
Pre-congress field trips (2-4 October)
- T1 – Tidal sedimentary dynamics of the Early Pleistocene Messina Strait (Calabria, southern Italy) based on its modern analogue (leaders: S.G. Longhitano, D. Chiarella, M. Gugliotta, P. Barrier, D. Ventra, F. Muto);
- T2 – A Miocene Mediterranean Strait: the Bonifacio Formation, Southern Corsica (leaders: J-Y. Reynaud and M. Ferrandini);
- T3 – The sedimentary response of mixed (lithoclastic-bioclastic) shallow-marine systems to tides and waves in the rock record of southern Italy (leaders: M. Tropeano, D. Chiarella, S.G. Longhitano, L. Sabato, L. Spalluto).
Post-congress field trips (8-10 October)
- T4 – Morphodynamics and sedimentary processes in salt marshes and tidal channels of the Venice Lagoon (Italy) (leaders: M. Ghinassi, A. D’Alpaos, A. Finotello, S. Silvestri);
- T5 – From marginal to axial tidal-strait facies in the lower Pleistocene Siderno Strait (leaders: S.G. Longhitano, V.M. Rossi, D. Chiarella, D. Mellere, F. Muto, V. Tripodi );
- T6 – The submarine dune field of the Bolognano Fm: depositional processes and the potential carbonate reservoir (Chattian to Burdigalian, Majella Carbonate Platform) (leaders: M. Brandano, L. Tomassetti, I. Cornacchia).
Latest news
Updated info will be communicated as the organization of the conference will progress on in the next months
Discover Matera
Matera, 2019 European Capital of Culture, and its "Sassi", a designated UNESCO World Heritage, provides a stunning backdrop of stairways, cave-houses carved within the rock and subsurface churches...
Travel grants
IAS student members can apply for travel grants through the IAS website
IAS Travel grants are intended to be a contribution to the expenses of the student (travel, housing, registration), but not a full reimbursement of all expenses. For TIDALITES 2021, individual grants will be in the order of 100-500 Euro, depending on distance traveled, and on the number of applications received. The deadline to submit travel-grant applications will be ca. 3 months prior to the conference (i.e., 1 July 2021). However, further details will be announced soon.
SEPM STUDENT MEMBERS CAN APPLY FOR TRAVEL GRANTS THROUGH THE SEPM WEBSITE
Students that are SEPM members can apply for a student grant at link below.
Any questions about the grants or process can be directed to the SEPM Membership Coordinator Hayley Cooney (hcooney@sepm.org).
Committees

Organizing Committee
- Sergio G. Longhitano (University of Basilicata, Italy)
- Domenico Chiarella (Royal Holloway University, London, UK)
- Valentina M. Rossi (IGG-CNR, Italy)
- Marcello Tropeano (University of Bari, Italy)
- Luisa Sabato (University of Bari, Italy)
- Vincenzo Pascucci (University of Sassari, Italy)
- Marcello Gugliotta (Bremen University, Germany)
- Marco Brandano (University of Roma La Sapienza, Italy)
- Massimiliano Ghinassi (University of Padova, Italy)
- Andrea D’Alpaos (University of Padova, Italy)
- Franco Muto (University of Calabria, Italy)
- Emilia Lepera (University of Calabria, Italy)
- Pascal Barrier (UniLaSalle, Paris, France)
- Filippo Cristallo (National Geological Council)

Scientific Committee
- Robert W. Dalrymple (University of Queens, Canada)
- Ron J. Steel (Jackson School of Geosciences, USA)
- Allard Martinius (Equinor, Tromso, Norway)
- Poppe de Boer (University of Utrecht, Netherlands)
- Bernadette Tessier (University of Normandy, France)
- Jesper Bartholdy (University of Copenhagen, Denmark)
- Jean-Yve Reynaud (University Lille, France)
- Roberto A. Scasso (University of Buenos Aires)
- Massimiliano Ghinassi (University of Padova, Italy)
- Shahin Dashtgard (Simon Fraser University, Canada)
- Andrea Cucco (Institute of Oceanography, IAMC-CNR, Italy)
- Yoshiki Saito (Shimane University, Japan)
- Francesco L. Chiocci (Università of Roma La Sapienza, Italy)

Steering Committee
- Clark Alexander (Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, Georgia, USA)
- Jesper Bartholdy (University of Copenhagen, Denmark (CHAIRMAN))
- Alexander Bartholomä (Senckenberg Institute, Germany)
- José I. Cuitiño (University of Buenos Aires, Argentina)
- Robert Dalrymple (Queen’s University at Kingston, Canada)
- Poppe L. DE Boer (University of Utrecht, The Netherlands)
- Burg W. Flemming (Senckenberg Institute, Germany)
- Shu Gao (Nanjing University, China)
- Yong A. Park (Seoul National University, Korea)
- Jean-Yves Reynaud (University of Lille, France)
- Roberto A. Scasso (University of Buenos Aires, Argentina)
- Bernadette Tessier (CNRS, University of Caen, France)
- Hong Wang (Geological Survey Centre, Tianjin, China)
- Ping Yin (Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, China)
Sponsors and portfolio
TIDALITES 2021 has the endorsement of the S.G.I. (Italian Geological Society), Geosed (Italian Association of Sedimentary Geology) and G.E. (Georesources & Energy). It is sponsored by UNIBAS (University of Basilicata), the Department of Sciences (DIS), I.A.S (International Association of Sedimentologists) and S.E.P.M. (Society for Sedimentary Geology).
We are looking for additional sponsors and supporters, in order to provide facilities for early-career researchers and awards for the best student presentations.
Contact us
- University of Basilicata
- info@tidalites2021.it
- sergio.longhitano@unibas.it
- (39) 0971 205865
- (39) 340 4617653
- Tidalites 2021 on Facebook