More than 30 middle school students from remote mountainous areas of Zhaotong, Yunnan were lucky to take part in a science summer camp in Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) from July 25 -29. The summer camp was organized by the Ecological Society of Yunnan and financially supported by Yunnan Association for Science and Technology.

   The summer camp is aimed to provide chances for teenagers from remote mountainous areas to communicate with scientific professionals, to visit scientific facilities, and to have a better understanding of biodiversity conservation.

   XTBG organized a series of activities for the camp participants, involving them in popular science education and vacationing. Apart from lectures by XTBG professionals, they enjoyed the camp and got knowledge through popular science activities. They explored science mystery in the tropical rainforest, carried out small research projects under guidance of professionals, had sightseeing observations of XTBG in the night, and learned new things while visiting the garden.

  They were specially shown around the research equipment and instruments of the Central Laboratory and Paleoecology Group, which helped them understand how scientists work.

 The opening ceremony of the Summer Camp was help on the morning of July 25, with presence of Prof. Cao Min, director of Ecological Society of Yunnan, Mr. Tang Bing of Yunnan Association for Science and Technology, Dr. Fan Zexin of XTBG, and related personnel of Zhaotong city and XTBG.

Opening of the summer camp

Look at facilities of the Central Laboratory

At the Paleoecology laboratory

Listen to lecture

Seek science mystery in the tropical rainforest

Conduct small research projects

 Verbal group report