In this Third Okazaki Biological Conference of "The Biology of Extinction", we will discuss a wide range of aspects in biological sciences which are related to the extinction of species. The purpose of the conference is to explore the possibility of forming a new research field of basic biology centered on this theme.

Scientists from diverse fields of biological sciences, including evolution, ecology, genetics, molecular biology, phylogenetics, and paleontology, will present different faces of the problem, and join the discussion. We will start with a session of pre-historic extinction of species, based on paleontology, molecular biology of fossil samples and theoretical study of extinction process. We then discuss phylogenetic and geographical patterns of extinction, followed by sessions from the perspectives of population and community biology. We then focus on two anthropogenic factors driving extinction: biological invasion and climatic changes. The conference will end with a session on an integrated understanding of extinction.

All the participants except for speakers are requested to give a poster paper on Wednesday. Poster presenters are also expected to prepare for a short talk, because eight among them will be selected and requested to give an oral presentation on Friday.