The students toured the Museum of Hydrobiological Sciences during the Summer Camp. (Credit: IHB)

From 14 to 17 July, 2026, the Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB) at the Chinese Academy of Sciences hosted its 2026 Summer Camp, welcoming 111 outstanding students from 49 universities across the country for a four-day programme of academic exploration and exchange.

The camp opened on the morning of 15 July with an unconventional start: rather than a separate ceremony, participants were invited to sit in on the Fourth Aquatic Biodiversity and Ecology Forum, which was taking place concurrently in Wuhan. The students observed presentations and discussions among leading researchers, gaining first-hand exposure to the latest debates and discoveries in the field. “I’ve only ever read these names in papers, hearing them speak in person is incredible,” one participant remarked.

From the afternoon of 15 July through the morning of 16 July, LIAO Caiping, deputy director of the Human Resources and Education Office, introduced the institute’s 90-year history and institutional legacy. This was followed by research presentations from more than 20 research groups, during which principal investigators showcased their facilities and findings, as well as snapshots of daily laboratory life and fieldwork. A question-and-answer session followed each presentation, with lively exchanges between students and faculty.

On the afternoon of 16 July, participants toured the institute’s Museum of Hydrobiological Sciences, history exhibit, goldfish facility, big data center, and cetacean specimen collection. The visits ranged from ancient fish fossils to real-time ecological data visualizations, offering a comprehensive view of the institute’s research heritage and current frontiers.

The closing ceremony took place on the evening of 17 July. LIAO Caiping presented certificates of completion to all participants, bringing the four-day programme to a close.

A group photo of all the students participating in the 2026 Summer Camp. (Credit: IHB)