Funded by CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES PRESIDENT’S INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP INITIATIVE，Prof. John Grace visited Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) of CAS from February 27^th to April 16^th 2017.

Prof. John Grace is a celebrated specialist in forest flux, executive board member of Carbo Europe-IP, emeritus professor & senior research fellow of The University of Edinburgh, UK, former head of Institute of Atmospheric & Environmental Sciences, UK. He has published more than 300 research articles in peer-reviewed journals, including top journals such as Nature. He has written three books as sole author, edited or co-edited seven academic monographs.

During his visit at XTBG, Prof. Grace worked with the Global Change Group at XTBG, to discuss areas of common interest, and particularly to guide researchers in the formation of research plans and in the preparation of their work for publication in international journals. He also gave a lecture entitled “Searching in the Forest for the Tropical Carbon Sink” to XTBG staff and students, and attended group meetings to discuss their work and to plan future collaborations.

On March 2^nd, Prof. John Grace attended the group meeting of the Global Change Research Group. Group leader Prof. Yiping Zhang presented work of the whole group, and introduced Prof. Grace to his staff members and postgraduate students. They discussed further international collaboration at the group meeting. During his stay in XTBG, he had face-to-face meetings with 14 researchers, of whom 8 were postgraduates at various stages, and 6 were senior members of the Group. Prof. Grace also supervised the researchers and the students on the scientific paper writing, with the aim to produce high-impact publications in the framework of ChinaFLUX. The topics mainly focus on: (1) To what extent are the forests acting as carbon sinks; (2) How are the greenhouse gases (CO₂, N₂O and CH₄) affected by climatic extremes especially periods of low rainfall and cold temperature; and (3) Effects of warming on soil respiration etc.   

During March 27- April 2, Prof. John Grace visited Yuanjiang Savana Ecosystem Research Station, where he had discussions with the scientists and students and visited the long-term flux monitoring and long-term experimental manipulations in the field, providing advice and guidance on the synthesis of CO₂, H₂O and energy flux data and the long-term effects of drought on whole ecosystem.

During April 7- April 10, Prof. John Grace visited the sub-alpine forest ecosystem in Lijiang and made a field tour to the 25-ha dynamics plot in the cold temperate spruce-fir forest. Where, Prof. John Grace had a meeting and discussion with the scientists of Lijiang Ecological Station, exchanged ideas on enhancing cooperation in climate change research and regional flux network studies.

One week before his departure, Prof. John Grace and all the members of Global Change Research Group held a meeting to discuss future collaboration between University of Edinburgh and XTBG. Both sides are looking forward to working closely on the research of climate change and related research fields.

 

  Guide the student-1

 

            Guide the student-2

               Guide the student-3

                                   Guide the student-4

     Visit Lijiang Forest Ecosystem Research Station 

                        Group meeting