Contestants presented with enthusiasm and expertise during the History Exhibit Docent Competition. (Credit: IHB)

On January 10, the Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences held its 2025 History Exhibit Docent Competition. 

Thirteen contestants took turns presenting, with some reflecting on the institute's history, while others simulated live docent tours. Several contestants used storytelling to highlight the institute's legacy and values. Their passionate presentations were met with strong applause.

After judging, ZHOU Shijia, a master's student from the 2023 cohort, earned first place with the highest score. Five contestants received second place, and seven earned third place. The winners were presented with certificates and prizes, and the 13 participants were officially appointed as docents for IHB's History Exhibit by XIE Shouqi and LIANG Qiong, deputy directors of IHB.

In his closing remarks, Xie praised the competition and the preparatory recruitment activities, congratulating the winners. He stressed the importance of the History Exhibit as a key educational platform to promote understanding of IHB’s history and values. He also outlined three recommendations for the future: 

Integrate Narratives: Link the institute's history with its current research efforts and future goals.

Convey Core Values: Focus on IHB’s core principles of "innovation, practicality, collaboration, and diligence."

Prepare Thoroughly: Approach the role of docent with the same rigor as scientific research, carefully studying the materials, adapting stories for different audiences, and developing individual presentation styles.

To further promote IHB’s culture and enhance visitor experiences, the institute launched a recruitment campaign for History Exhibit docents. Over 50 staff and students participated, undergoing training in three sessions held in November and December 2024. These sessions, including both on-site training and reports, covered IHB’s administrative and research departments and are now an integral part of the institute’s educational activities. 

As IHB celebrates its 95th anniversary in 2025, the newly appointed docents will begin offering tours of the History Exhibit to all institute members. A new round of docent recruitment and training will also be launched—stay tuned!

XIE Shouqi and LIANG Qiong, deputy directors of IHB, presented the appointment letters to the 13 award-winning docents of the IHB History Exhibit. (Credit: IHB)

On December 25, Prof. ZHANG Xianfeng was invited to give a training session for the docents of the IHB History Exhibit. (Credit: IHB)

On November 25, an on-site training session was held for the docents of the IHB History Exhibit. (Credit: IHB)