The Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS-SEABRI) held its first annual meeting on January 17-19. The meeting provided a platform for concerning institutes and researchers to exchange ideas and summarize work in 2016, and seek ways for development in the future.

   Prof. Cao Jinghua, director general of the Bureau of International Cooperation of CAS, delivered an opening speech. He briefly introduced achievements in international cooperation programs (CAS-SEABRI included) of CAS over the past year.

  Prof. Chen Jin, director of Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) and director of CAS-SEABRI, introduced overall framework and summarized achievements in 2016. He also deployed work plan in 2017 and raised tasks which should be tackled by cooperation among concerning institutes.

  The principal investigators in charge of three research teams and five international cooperation programs reported their work progress.

  The Academic Committee, with academician Xu Zhihong as chairman, evaluated the research programs. The research programs with Dr. Li Shuqiang of Institute of Zoology and Dr. Lin Luxiang of XTBG as principal investigator respectively won excellence award.

   The annual meeting also talked about postgraduate program.The researchers and experts discussed problems and plans.

   Since field work is part of the regular work of CAS-SEABRI, safety is of top concern of the attending researchers. CAS-SEABRI should put safety of the researchers as a priority.

   The annual meeting was attended by 50 researchers from CAS Bureau of International Cooperation, Kunming Branch, XTBG, Institute of Zoology, Institute of Botany, Institute of Microbiology, Kunming Institute of Botany, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Institue of Aquatic Biology, Yunnan University, etc.

ABOUT

The Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS-SEABRI), is an international scientific research and education institute affiliated directly to CAS and managed by XTBG. Its mission is serve China’s “ Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road”initiative; integrate efforts from CAS and international institutes to organize professional research groups and train researchers in Southeast Asian countries; and provide support to all domestic and international partners.

The first annual meeting of CAS-SEABRI

Mr. CAO Jinghua makes opening remarks

Researchers report work progress

The first annual meeting of CAS-SEABRI

Participants pose a group photo