Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) held its Annual Academic Meeting 2018 to showcase the research progress in plant sciences, ecology, and conservation ecology on December 8-9. Prizes were awarded for the best oral and poster presentations. 

The two-day meeting included keynote plenary lectures, oral presentations by principal investigators and early-career researchers. It also included discussion and communication. 

On behalf of the two key laboratories and conservation center respectively, Dr. Yang Jie, Prof. Liu Changning, and Prof. Kyle Tomilinson made plenary presentations on the first day. Their presentations included “Why Functional Traits Do Not Predict Tree Demographic Rates”, “Study on lncRNAs”, and “The ecology and evolution of spiny plants-progress so far”. 

35 principal investigators presented the research progress of their groups respectively. 37 young researchers and students presented their work.  

The oral and poster presentations by early-career researchers were evaluated. The best oral presentation winner prize went to Dr. Liu Yuntong and Sun Peng. The best poster presentation prize winner was Zhu Xiai. 

“The annual academic conference provides a platform for researchers to present research progress, to have academic exchange and discussion. It also helps development of early-career researchers”, said Prof. Chen Jin, director of XTBG. 

“Last year, one presentation entitled ‘MILK-PROVISIONING maternal care in a jumping spider’ was discussed at the annual conference. This year we witness its publication in journal Science, which is really encouraging”, said Prof. Chen Jin.  

Thus, the annual conference showcases the best of our research. 

Participants pose a photo

Prof. Chen Jin makes an opening speech.

Pleanry speakers

Principal investigators present

Early-career researchers present

Prize winners receive certificate from Prof. Chen Jin