The "China Youthology" Summer Camp of the School of Life Sciences of Hebei University was held in multiple laboratories from July 1st to August 15th, 2020. This activity aimed to improve the ability of contemporary college students to discover and solve problems in practice. The summer camp activities that organized by the "Global Change Ecology Laboratory (PI: Professor Shiqiang Wan)" at the "Dolun Restoration Ecology Experimental Research Station of the Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences (hereafter Duolun Experimental Station) )" and "Xinyang Forest Ecosystem Observation and Research Station (hereafter Xinyang Observation and Research Station)" have been carried out smoothly.
During the 45-day summer camp, the campers had a comprehensive understanding of the development process and the latest research progress of global change ecology. They studied the background and design of all experiments that implemented by Global Change Ecology Laboratory. At the same time, the campers have learned the operation and daily maintenance of instruments in ecological research.
At the Duolun Experimental Station, 13 outstanding undergraduates from different universities across the country participated this summer camp activity. The leading teachers of the experimental station and the on-site doctoral and master students led the campers to participate in the construction of artificial communities, community investigation, species-area curve investigation, carbon cycle parameter determination and other ecological experimental practice activities. Several meetings were held to introduce the experimental background, scientific issues, and experimental design prompting the campers to think about the scientific significance of the seemingly boring experiments.
Figure 1: A group photo of the leaders of Hebei University and the summer campers of Duolun Experimental Station
Figure 2: Campers from Duolun Experimental Station participate in ecological experiment practice activities
At the Xinyang Observation and Research Station, the leading teachers of Xinyang Observation and Research Station and the on-site doctoral and master students led 15 campers to participate in the routine measurements, species research, and samples of multiple experimental platforms such as the forest carbon input experiment, the subtropical mixed coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest litter and understory vegetation removal experiment. The campers also learned how to collect and analyze the physical and chemical properties of samples in the laboratory. Some academic seminars were held to deepen camper’s understanding of the frontier scientific research of global change ecology and expand their academic horizons.
Figure 3: Group photo of summer campers at Xinyang Observation and Research Station
Figure 4: Campers from Xinyang Observation and Research Station participate in field experiments and academic seminars
Through this summer camp, the students not only learned about the high-level scientific research facilities and rigorous academic attitudes of the School of Life Sciences of Hebei University, but also felt the strong academic atmosphere and pragmatic and enterprising style of our school. By participating in front-line scientific research, the students increased their practical knowledge and broadened their horizons. They experienced the grace of the Inner Mongolia grasslands and the Dabie Mountains transition zone. More importantly, they recognized the severe situation of the ecological environment and the unique charm of ecological.
This summer camp activity was successfully ended allowing college students to learn about the cultivation of graduate students in the Global Change Ecology Laboratory and helping college students interested in ecological research get in touch with frontiers of Science. At the same time, it will attract outstanding students to study in our school, better promote the integration of science and education, and cultivate more innovative academic talents for our country.