Prof. Gilles BOEUF, president of French National Museum of Natural History, paid a visit to IHB on May 31.　

At the invitation of Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IHB), Prof. Gilles BOEUF, president of French National Museum of Natural History, paid a visit to Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IHB) on May 31. During his visit, Prof. Boeuf made a presentation entitled “La Biodiversité: enjeu local ou global?” (Biodiversity: local or global issue?). This lecture is one of the series of events of the 2012 International Biodiversity Day.  

The lecture was chaired by IHB’s deputy director Prof. XIE Shouqi. Ms. Isabelle DEDUN, educational attaché of French Consulate General in Wuhan, delivered a speech to express her gratitude to Wuhan Baiji Conservation Foundation (WBCF) for its contribution to the conservative studies of Yangtze River dolphin and Yangtze finless porpoises. She hoped both French and Chinese institutions can further strengthen their cooperation in biodiversity conservation. Prof. ZHANG Xianfeng, vice president and secretary general of WBCF, introduced the basic status and current activities of the WBCF.  

In his presentation, Prof. Boeuf explained the definition of biodiversity and the significance of biodiversity conservation. He elucidated the huge differences of biodiversity between marine and terrestrial species by introducing the fundamental role of water to life and the origin of life. He particularly pointed out the effective measures of biodiversity conservation.  

In closing, Prof. Boeuf said, “The biodiversity crisis is no less serious than the climate crisis. It’s time for us to take initiatives to conserve biodiversity.”   

Gilles Boeuf is Professor at University Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris 6 (UPMC), France. He also works in the combined Laboratory UPMC/CNRS "Models in Cellular and Evolutive Biology” at the Oceanological Observatory, Located in Banyuls-sur-mer in the French Catalan Pyrenees. He is involved in studies on environmental physiology, comparative endocrinology, ocean living resources and marine biodiversity. He mainly works on fish, as models. He has published extensively on these fields over the last 33 years. He is deeply involved in comparative physiology and biodiversity studies, including serving as President of the Scientific Committee of the National Museum of Natural History and member of the Scientific Committee of the Natural Patrimony and Biodiversity of the French Ministry of Ecology and Sustainable Development.

 Prof. Boeuf (2^nd L) and Ms. Isabelle Dedun (1^st R) visit the Museum for Aquatic Organisms at IHB, May 31.