The " International Symposium on Biodiversity, Global Change and Eco-Health & 3rd Workshop of the Sino-French International Research Network on Biodiversity" was successfully held at Hainan University from October 22 to 24, 2025. The Symposium was co-organized by the SF-IRN-B and the International Society of Zoological Sciences (ISZS), and co-hosted by the School of Ecology of Hainan University, the Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the One Health International Institute of Hainan University. The symposium received funding and support from the China Association for Science and Technology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), the International Society of Zoological Sciences, the Embassy of France in China (Ambassade de France en Chine), and the Beijing French Cultural Center (L’Institut Français D3 Chine).
Group Photo
Nearly 20 international experts from countries including France, Spain, and the United States, along with over 20 Chinese scholars from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and various domestic universities and research institutions, engaged in in-depth and productive exchanges and discussions centered on the theme of "Biodiversity, Global Change, and Ecological Health."
Remarks by Qingming Luo, President of Hainan University
On the morning of October 22, the opening ceremony was grandly held at the International Academic Exchange Center, Hainan University. Distinguished attendees and guests included: Qingming Luo, President of Hainan University and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Wei Xu, Vice President of the Hainan Association for Science and Technology; Xiangjiang Zhan, Deputy Director of the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Ling Zhu, Director of the International Cooperation Department of the Hainan Association for Science and Technology; Liang Liu, Director of the International Cooperation and Exchange Office of Hainan University; Ms. Hélène Berges, Science and Technology Attaché of the French Embassy in China; Ms. Tatiana Legendre-Hyldig, Science and Technology Project Officer of the French Embassy in China; Professor Yvon Le Maho, Professor at the Hubert Curien Multidisciplinary Institute of the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), Academician of the French Academy of Sciences, recipient of the Chinese Government Friendship Award, and the Network Advisor; Professor Rodolfo Dirzo at Stanford University and Academician of the National Academy of Sciences (US); Professor Santiago Merino, expert from the National Museum of Natural Sciences of Spain and Executive Committee Member of the International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS); Professor Zhibin Zhang at the School of Ecology of Hainan University and Executive Director of the International Society of Zoological Sciences (Network Advisor); Professor Martine Hossaert-McKey of the French National Centre for Scientific Research (Network Advisor); Professor Caroline Habold of the Hubert Curien Multidisciplinary Institute of CNRS (French Network Northern Part Director); Professor Jin Chen of the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Network Southern Part Director); Professor Chaodong Zhu of the Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Network Northern Part Director); Professor Zhongmin Hu, Dean of the School of Ecology of Hainan University; Professor Haoyan Lin, Executive Secretary of the School of Ecology; and Vice Deans Professor Zhao Hongwei and Professor Liu Wenjie.
Opening addresses were delivered respectively by Professor Qingming Luo, President of Hainan University; Mr. Wei Xu, Vice President of the Hainan Association for Science and Technology; Professor Xiangjiang Zhan, Deputy Director of the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; and Ms. Hélène Berges, Science and Technology Attaché of the French Embassy in China. Professor Zhongmin Hu outlined the development of the School of Ecology, while Professor Yvon Le Maho, French Advisor to the SF-IRN-B and Academician of the French Academy of Sciences, elaborated on the establishment background and development vision of this international cooperation network. The opening ceremony was presided by Professor Chaodong Zhu from the Institute of Zoology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Remarks by Mr. Wei Xu, Vice President of the Hainan Association for Science and Technology (left); Professor Xiangjiang Zhan, Deputy Director of the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (right)
The two-day academic conference featured multiple plenary report sessions. Professor Yvon Le Maho, Academician of the French Academy of Sciences, delivered a presentation on "How to Minimize Disturbance to Animals in Field Research"; Professor Martine Hossaert-McKey shared the latest French research findings on "Nature-based Solutions"; and Professor Rodolfo Dirzo, Academician of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, systematically elucidated the ecological cascade effects triggered by faunal loss in disease ecology. The conference presentations extensively covered multiple cutting-edge topics, including species interactions, ecosystem responses, pathogen transmission, and natural resource conservation, fully highlighting the distinctive feature of interdisciplinary exchange.
During the conference, a field visit was conducted to the Coral Reef Ecological Science Yard of Hainan University's School of Ecology (also serving as the science education base of the Hainan International Joint Research Center for Coral Reef Ecology) located at the Yuanyuantang in Baishamen Park, Haidian Island. A thematic academic seminar was held alongside the visit, effectively integrating academic exchange with natural landscapes and scientific practice.
The Sino-French International Research Network on Biodiversity (SF-IRN-B) traces its origins to the official state visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to China in November 2019. During this visit, the French Embassy in China and the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), in collaboration with the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, co-organized a Sino-French bilateral symposium on biodiversity and the environment in Beijing. Following this event, both parties explored the concept of establishing a joint Sino-French research center dedicated to biodiversity.
In 2020, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Antoine Petit, Chairman and CEO of CNRS, and Chunli Bai, President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). On December 7-8, 2023, Researcher Zhibin Zhang, Professor Yvon Le Maho, and Professor Martine Hossaert-McKey organized an online preparatory meeting to discuss the establishment of the research network.
The formal cooperation agreement to jointly create the SF-IRN-B was signed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and CNRS in Beijing on June 25, 2024. This was immediately followed by the 1st SF-IRN-B Academic Conference, held in Beijing. The 2nd SF-IRN-B Academic Conference then took place in France from November 13-24, 2024.
The most recent symposium has further deepened the academic dialogue between China and France in the field of biodiversity. It is expected to significantly enhance bilateral cooperation and exchange in areas such as biodiversity conservation, One Health ecology, and global change ecology.
