42 scientists from Germany and China gathered together at XTBG during March 19 and 25 to talk about environmental change and its impact on biodiversity. The meeting was funded by the Sino-German Center of the Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC). The theme of the meeting was “Late Cenozoic Environmental Change in Eastern Eurasia and Its Impact on Past and Present Biodiversity”.

The meeting was jointly hosted by Professor Zhe-Kun Zhou from XTBG and Professor Volker Mosbrugger from Senckenberg Research Institute and Museum.

Prof. Chen Jin, director of XTBG, delivered a welcome speech at the opening ceremony.

Prof. Volker Mosbrugger talked about the importance of the Chinese palaeobotanical record in the context of Neogene Climate Evolution in Eurasia research – state of the art. Prof. Zhou Zhekun’s presentation was entitled “The onset and evolution of Asian monsoon brought some plants close to extinction”.

39 oral presentations were made at the meeting. The presentations covered such topics as global climate change, biogeography, biodiversity, palaeoclimatic research, palaeobotanical studies, palaeovegetation, Neogene strata, and fossils, etc.

Dr. Chen Jin delivering a welcome speech

Mr. Chang Qing, director of Sino-German Center  of NSFC, giving a talk

Professor Volker Mosbrugger making a presentation

Prof. Zhou Zhekun presenting his studies

The participants listening to a lecture

Group photo of participants

(Images by Duan Qiwu)