The logo is inspired by the sundial, a timekeeping instrument in ancient China, which uses the shadow of the sun to indicate the time of day. It features four elliptical planes stacked at an angle, symbolizing the four interacting geospheres of the Earth system: atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and lithosphere. On the top elliptical plane there are seven varying lengths of segments forming a semi-circular "C" shape, depicting seven epochs of the Cenozoic: Paleocene, Eocene, Oligocene, Miocene, Pliocene, Pleistocene, and Holocene, with the vertical "pointer" shadow pointing towards the Holocene. 

The primary color scheme continues to feature the traditional red and blue colors from previous OSM & YSM meetings, with a vibrant orange, as seen in the prominent PAGES logo, used as an accent color. This combination ensures overall color harmony and high visibility for easy recognition.

The logo symbolizes the interactions of four geospheres in the Earth system across timescales. It effectively aligns with the conference theme: “Earth System Changes from the Past towards the Future” and captures the essence of the PAGES.