YNU earth system science lab gets provincial approval

The "Yunnan Provincial Earth System Science Key Laboratory" built by Yunnan University got the green light from the Yunnan Provincial Science and Technology Department on March 19, following thorough reviews and an on-site inspection by experts.

Located in Southwest China, Yunnan province boasts rich geological resources and is an advantageous area for conducting earth science research and teaching. The lab, with strong support from provincial departments and YNU, was established in 2019 to carry out cutting-edge earth science research.

During the two-year construction period, the laboratory focused on platform construction, scientific research and discipline construction centered on the evolution of the earth system and the resources and environment of the southeastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

A staff member works at the library of plant and fossil samples of the key laboratory. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]

The lab has preliminarily established an earth science experimental test system with Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) as the core, integrating geochemistry, sedimentology, micropaleontology, paleobotany and chronology.

The laboratory undertakes many national, provincial and ministerial scientific research projects, including major projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Chinese Academy of Science and Yunnan province, with a total research budget of more than 20 million yuan ($3.05 million).

During the construction period, the laboratory published 66 papers, including 59 Science Citation Index (SCI) papers.

With provincial leading sci-tech professionals as team members, the laboratory boasts a professional research team with an international influence in the field of earth system science.

A research team of the key laboratory investigates the source of the Yangtze River in the Tanggula Mountains. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]

In terms of international cooperation, the laboratory focuses on collaborations and exchanges with traditional partners, such as the University of Tokyo, Louisiana State University and the University of Queensland. An international earth system science joint research center has been established.

In the future, the laboratory will strengthen infrastructure and system construction, achieve international-level scientific research results in the field of earth system science, serve Yunnan's economic and social development and build a first-class earth science discipline at YNU.