For the past three years, the Anthropocene Working Group (AWG) has undertaken extensive research at 12 different locations across the globe to search for geological evidence of recent planetary change provoked by industrialized humanity. The research process has been closely accompanied by the Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW) and the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science (MPIWG) within the collaborative framework of the Anthropocene Curriculum.

On July 11, 2023 the scientists of the Anthropocene Working Group presented their proposed Anthropocene GSSP candidate in a joint online press conference with the Max Planck Society and former members of the HKW. The press conference took place as a special event of the international Max Planck Society Conference for a Sustainable Anthropocene.