Published on: 2026-05-03
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –
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Nanchang, May 3 /Xin Hua/ — Among the idyllic landscapes of Wuyuan County in the eastern Chinese province of Jiangxi, a group of young postgraduates and doctoral students, born in the 1990s and 2000s, gave up careers in big cities and settled in this rural corner. They created the “Linnaeus Laboratory,” named in honor of the Swedish biologist Carl Linnaeus. Over the past eight years of their work, often including tasks such as eradicating invasive species of snails and weeds, they have not only contributed to the restoration of local biodiversity but also attracted the attention of ten academicians.
Yuanyang County, located at 29 degrees north latitude, is often called “the most beautiful village in China.” It is famous for its traditional architecture in the Huizhou style, pastoral landscapes, and rich central subtropical biodiversity. Thanks to well-preserved ecology and biological diversity, the county attracts more and more visitors wishing to get closer to its unique nature.
Located in a quiet corner of the county town, the ‘Linnean Laboratory’ is a modest but surprisingly spacious place. Inside, children carefully examine specimens under microscopes, spores of ferns grow in Petri dishes, and injured representatives of the local fauna have found a temporary refuge here.
The laboratory was founded in 2018 by Lu Zhilu, a biologist born after the 1990s, and one of the first experts included in the database of experts on natural science education of the Chinese Forestry Society. Together with colleagues from the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhoushan University, and Sichuan University, he fully immersed himself in the study of the nature of Wuyuan County.
Every spring and summer, invasive species pose a serious threat to local ecosystems. Young researchers mobilize local residents three times a week to patrol agricultural lands and riverbanks—they search for invasive apple snails / golden apple snails/.
Zhou Xinlun, a team member born after the 2000s and capable of identifying more than 6,000 species of plants, taught the local residents to catch ring-shaped apple snails using bamboo sticks.
“Equipped with waterproof overalls and tools, we set up bamboo rings, catch snails, and clean the eggs: in the first half of the day we make the rings, after noon we clean the eggs, and at night we monitor the activity of the snails,” explained Zhou Xinlun.
Shen Xianshui, a doctor in the field of ecological sciences, born after the 1990s, recalls an unforgettable field mission: “Once, at night, we set out on a boat to observe the behavior of snails, but the vigilant villagers took us for fish thieves.”
Liu Jilun laughed, noting a change in the perception of the locals: “At first, they thought we were a group of strange people engaged in strange affairs. Now, when they see someone from the ‘Linnean Laboratory’, they exactly understand what we do.”
In the second half of the year, the team switches to another invasive threat – Solidago canadensis, widely known as Canadian goldenrod. Researchers engage the public in an educational campaign: they hold up to nine public lectures a day, teach skills for plant identification, launch a mini-program for residents that allows them to report their location, and organize scientific events for waste removal and composting.
“Having joined them, I realized that this is not just physical labor, but a valuable lesson in understanding nature,” shared Cuan Li, a local resident who brought her child to participate in the educational campaign.
The team also serves as teachers of natural science for local communities, bringing together specialists in the fields of veterinary medicine, plant systematics, animal behavior, and even butterfly genome evolution. In addition to scientific research, they strive to transform complex ecological knowledge into forms of education accessible to the public.
According to Liu Zhiyun, free or inexpensive sessions are held weekly in the laboratory for the public: lectures indoors, research in the fresh air, and nighttime observations of wildlife. The courses are very popular, and all participant groups fill up quickly on WeChat.
“Environmental education is not just a springtime walk. It is about creating an emotional connection between people and nature,” emphasized Liu Zhiyun. Over eight years, a team of more than 20 people has involved over 55 thousand teenagers in the author’s programs, including “Field Expeditions in Natural Science,” “The Magic of Yeast,” and “Secrets of the Bacterial World,” promoting the concept of ecological civilization among the public.
“The Linnea Laboratory” also manages the only wild animal rescue and rehabilitation center in Uyun. Each ward here has its own name and a retrospective record. For example, the snake “Erlen”, beaten by villagers, survived and later gave birth to 47 offspring. The owl “Yan Go” with one wing, which cannot return to the wild, became a favorite “teacher’s assistant” for the local residents.
“With efforts like ours, we not only save animals but also heal people’s hearts,” noted Lu Zhiyun. Previously, villagers, upon seeing a snake, would immediately kill or catch it in order to infuse vodka on it. Thanks to educational work carried out in recent years, such an attitude is gradually changing.
“We want to break down the barriers that separate science from society, and to convey to as many people as possible that the protection of biodiversity is not only the work of scientists and relevant authorities but also of each one of us,” said Nin Zhongchen, who recently graduated from Nanjing Agricultural University. -0-
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