The 16th International Symposium on Earth Tides was held during Sept. 1~6, 2008 in Jena, Germany. There were more than 150 scientists attended the symposium; they were from China, American, Japan, Germany, England, France, Italy, Russia, Korea, Spain, and Portugal. The symposium was hosted by Prof. Gerhard Jentzsch coming from Applied Geophysical College, Jena University. Prof. Sun Heping (director of IGG), Prof. Xu Houze(academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences) and Dr. Luo Shaocong were invited to attend the symposium.

　  The objective of the symposium was to promote international cooperation and coordination of investigations related to the observation, preprocessing, analysis and interpretation of earth tides. The content of the symposium contained spatial geodesy technologies (such as satellite gravimetry, super-conducting gravimetry and absolute gravimetry), non-periodic and long-term periodic signals in gravity, tilt and strain, tide theory in solid earth and ocean, land water storage distribution and global water distribution, tide effects of the moon, study on tectonic activity, geodynamic in polar district, and Global Geodynamics Project (GGP).

　  Prof. Sun was invited to make a keynote speech. He introduced the newest achievements of solid tide and geodynamics in China. Academician Xu introduced the progress in Chinese gravity network and the application of gravity in seismology. Dr. Lou introduced the theory and simulated results of the change in gravity due to atmospheric loading. During the symposium, IGG researchers communicated with scientists from other nations deeply and effectively.