On the afternoon of 4 September, the 2nd JSC Talks was successfully held in Room 301, Dianzi Building. Prof. Craig Moritz, Director, ANU Research School of Biology was invited to present a frontier lecture entitled “Evolutionary Biogeography” to over 100 JSC biology major students, including even some freshmen and their parents. Prof. Chang Xiaomei, Vice Dean, JSC, the JSC teachers of biology and five teachers from ANU Research School of Biology currently teaching at JSC attended in person. Prof. Bai Ming, Vice Dean, JSC hosted the lecture.
Bai Ming first introduced Prof. Moritz and his academic research background to the audience and extended his warm welcome and heartfelt thanks to Craig’s arrival.
Prof. Moritz focused on ongoing biogeographic analyses of the tropical forests and savanna of northern Australia. He explained that biogeography is the study of how biodiversity is distributed across the planet. Evolutionary biogeography combines earth history with evidence on where species occur, how they are related and their genetic diversity to understand the processes that have shaped current patterns of diversity. Given this understanding, biologists can better predict where hotspots of diversity are located and develop strategies to protect them in the face of increasing human-driven pressures on the environment.
The talk touched on two parts. Prof. Moritz started with the world rankings of species diversity, pointing out that species diversity is not equalized across geographic regions, and that historical geologic evolution and climate change have created large-scale biogeographic differences. He also visually demonstrated the process of ocean crustal change through animation. Then he shared how gene sequences can be used to prove relationships between similar species and how new species can be identified by combining traditional field biology with modern statistical modeling.
During the discussion, the students took the opportunity to ask the guest actively questions like the significance of evolutionary biology, career prospects, choosing a research direction in future and identifying professional interests. Prof. Moritz answered all the questions patiently. The whole room was full of academic and lively atmosphere. He encouraged the students to think actively and critically and dare to question. He also suggested that they lay a solid foundation in undergraduate study in order to get prepared for postgraduate research. Besides, he shared his experience of professional development with the audience.
In the interaction with Prof. Moritz, the students expanded their academic horizon. The exploration of evolutionary biology stimulated their strong desire for learning and developed their creative thinking. They expressed their willingness to continue their study in ANU to further explore the mysteries of biological sciences.
The successfully holding of the lecture has not only embodied the JSC’s strength as a Chinese-foreign cooperative educational institution, but also enabled the students to communicate and interact with scholars of global academic reputation, which is beneficial to enhancing their global competitiveness. The college will deepen international collaboration and conduct more academic exchanges so as to provide a broader platform for the talents’ development.
