There was an opening ceremony for the First Plant Fascination Day and awards ceremony for the National Student Composition Competition on Plant Day, May 19, in the Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden.
This first Plant Day was part of a larger science-popularization activity organized by the European Plant Science Organization (EPSO).
There were many officials and academicians on hand for the launch ceremony to speak and give awards to the composition competition winners, including Li Jinghai, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); Xu Zhihong, director-general of the Chinese Society of Plant Biology (CSPB); Chen Kaixian, president of the Shanghai Association of Science and Technology; Chen Xiaoya, president of the Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences (CAS); Chenshan, the Botanical Garden director; and Zhu Yuanzhi, vice president of CAS’s Shanghai Branch. There were also science classes after the ceremony and a lecture by Peking University's Prof Xu Zhihong on "Plants Changing Our Life" on the relationship of plants to human beings, the environment, energy and culture.
There was another lecture by East China Normal University's Prof Ma Weiliang on "How Plants Adapt to the Environment" help the audience learn more about plants' ability to adapt. Another speaker, Wang Fudi of CAS's Institute for Nutritional Sciences, talked about "Plants and Nutrition" to give the general public a better understanding of food safety and health.
The Botanical Garden also had a number of exhibits, such as one on bioenergy in the entrance hall, another on ancient and rare trees on the second floor, and a plant evolution show in the greenhouse.
In addition, there was a popular activity that allowed participants with Chenshan tickets to visit the entire garden on foot, from the Chinese Rose Garden, Quarry Garden, Rock Garden, Medicinal Plant Garden, and Maple Garden to the Tropical Garden and Desert Garden.
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| Plant Day started in Chenshan |
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| Plant Day started in Chenshan |
