The Training Course on Plant Identification and Classification 2015 was opened on May 25 in Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden. The training course is sponsored by Chinese Union of Botanical Gardens (CUBG) and co-organized by Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden. 42 people from 38 member gardens of CUBG are receiving intensive training in Shanghai. The training course lasts 21 days.

The opening ceremony was chaired by Prof. Ma Jinshuang, a plant taxonomist. Prof. Chen Jin, director of XTBG and chairman of CUBG, sent a congratulatory letter to the course opening.

 The 21-day training course draws on the expertise of scientists from Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden and other botanic gardens to provide training in the identification of plant families and in field survey techniques, and to demonstrate the latest appropriate field technologies.

 The course provides illustrated lectures, extensive hands-on practical sessions, comprehensive introduction to plant taxonomy and nomenclature, plant identification contests, plant specimen identification contests, etc. Plant photography, information system management, and genomics are included in this course.

Through 21-day intensive training, participants are expected to have a systematic understanding on plant taxonomy, be able to identify some plant families, to make botanical specimens of high scientific value, and be aware of the importance of linking taxonomic, identification and survey skills with conservation initiatives, etc. It also aims to cultivate a batch of plant taxonomists for botanic gardens.

 The training course is one of the three elite courses annually sponsored by the Chinese Union of Botanic Gardens (CUBG) since its official inauguration in 2013.

The opening ceremony

Prof. Ma Jinshuang gives a lecture

Participants pose a group photo