National Infrastructure of Mineral, Rock and Fossil for Science and Technology (NIMRF) successfully held International Youth Talent Exchange Program – China Exploration Program (CEP) in Beijing and Jilin

Funded by China International Talent Exchange Foundation, National infrastructure of Mineral, Rock and Fossil for Science and Technology (NIMRF) invited three graduate students in Paleontology from University of Toronto (UT), Canada for its International Youth Talent Exchange Program - China Exploration Program (CEP) in the July of 2025. The invited UT students Denise Marange, Adrian Osterling Arias, and Jordan Young participated in a two-week academic and cultural CEP program in China University of Geosciences – Beijing, and Jilin University.  In Beijing, led by NIMRF researcher Yang Mei, the foreign students visited Tian’anmen Square, the Great Wall, and Beijing Hutongs for an enriched Chinese Culturaltour. They also visited general research labs and multiple Geological Museums,getting some hands-on experience supervised by senior researchers.

Picture 1 to Picture 4, International students visited NIMRF, CUGB, and historial sites in Beijing.

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In Jilin, led by Academician Robert Reisz from University of Toronto, the foreign students attended a fieldtrip in Songyuan City with Chinese students, searching for Branchiopod fossils and fish fossils in the Cretaceous strata along the Songhua River in the Songliao Basin of Northeast China.

Picture 5-9, International students visited Jilin University, and attended a fieldtrip in Jilin, Liaoning.

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Having witnessed the profoundness of Chinese culture and the advanced achievements of China's modernization through CEP Program, foreign students expressed that they were overwhelmed by the dazzling diversification of China and the energetic enthusiasm of Chinese people. They also spoke highly on the CEP supervisors and the massive scale of valuable samples of ancient biological fossils in China. They look forward to having the opportunity to work on researches with Chinese faculties and students in the future. The unforgettable CEP program has not only improved foreign students’ academic learning, but also fulfilled their understanding of China.

Picture 10 to Picture 11, Academic exchange meetings

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CEP supervisors from both China and Canada held a short seminar with all participating young students, and encouraged them to maintain the friendship established through the CEP program. They hope that the students will continue to promote healthy international academic exchanges and cooperations between China and Canada.