Cambrian Nervous Systems for Reconstructing the Arthropod Tree of Life
Lead Research Organisation:
Natural History Museum
Department Name: Earth Sciences
Abstract
Arthropods are invertebrate animals with an exoskeleton, a segmented body, and jointed legs, such as insects, crabs, spiders and centipedes. Arthropoda is by far the largest and most diverse phylum today and is closely related to two smaller phyla, Onychophora (velvet worms) and Tardigrada (water bears), together forming Panarthropoda. They first appear 520 million years ago (Mya) in the "Cambrian Explosion", marked by the sudden appearance of most major animal phyla in the fossil record. The long geological history and exceptional diversity of panarthropods make them ideal candidates for understanding the origin and early evolution of animals, and it is thus fundamental to investigate their Cambrian fossil record.
The great diversity in the external appearance of panarthropods makes it difficult to understand their interrelationships. In contrast, recent studies show that the evolution of the central nervous system (CNS) has been remarkably conservative, and while variations between species can be recognised, the general arrangement within each major group has been very stable. Therefore, the CNS provides a primary source of data for understanding the relationships of major panarthropod groups. Unfortunately, extant species cannot inform us about the earliest panarthropod brains and nervous systems, or their early evolutionary history. Only fossils, which record the earliest stages in the evolution of arthropods, can provide the answers.
Soft parts of animals tend to decay away quickly after death, so most arthropod fossils are the remains of hard parts (e.g. exoskeletons) and much less is known about their internal anatomy. However, under exceptional circumstances, the unmineralised soft tissue of organisms can also be preserved in exquisite detail, such as in two famous Cambrian fossil assemblages: the Chengjiang biota, southwest China (circa 520 Mya), and the Burgess Shale, Canada (circa 505 Mya). Both yield abundant panarthropod fossils with exceptionally preserved external morphology and internal anatomy, providing crucial information about the earliest panarthropods. Countering orthodox assumptions that neural tissue does not withstand fossilization, the applicant and her colleagues recently reported exceptionally preserved brains and nervous systems from Chengjiang arthropods, which added a fresh injection of data for understanding fossil arthropods and established a new research field, "neuropalaeontology". Further provisional studies have discovered the brain and other neural tissues in even earlier-derived fossil panarthropods, providing vital information regarding the origin of arthropod brains; as well as new discoveries of exceptionally preserved circulatory systems (previously all but unknown in the arthropod fossil record) and sensory structures (e.g. eyes and sense organs on the antennae) from Cambrian panarthropods. Together with their CNS, these provide unique insights into the ecology and evolution of early panarthropods.
The aim of this project is to accurately document the CNS, sensory structures and other internal organ systems from exceptionally preserved Cambrian panarthropods (e.g. lobopodians, anomalocaridids and arthropods) of the Chengjiang and Burgess Shale biotas and compare the data with living groups, so as to increase our understanding of the evolutionary relationships between major groups during the early stages of radiation and divergence.
The great diversity in the external appearance of panarthropods makes it difficult to understand their interrelationships. In contrast, recent studies show that the evolution of the central nervous system (CNS) has been remarkably conservative, and while variations between species can be recognised, the general arrangement within each major group has been very stable. Therefore, the CNS provides a primary source of data for understanding the relationships of major panarthropod groups. Unfortunately, extant species cannot inform us about the earliest panarthropod brains and nervous systems, or their early evolutionary history. Only fossils, which record the earliest stages in the evolution of arthropods, can provide the answers.
Soft parts of animals tend to decay away quickly after death, so most arthropod fossils are the remains of hard parts (e.g. exoskeletons) and much less is known about their internal anatomy. However, under exceptional circumstances, the unmineralised soft tissue of organisms can also be preserved in exquisite detail, such as in two famous Cambrian fossil assemblages: the Chengjiang biota, southwest China (circa 520 Mya), and the Burgess Shale, Canada (circa 505 Mya). Both yield abundant panarthropod fossils with exceptionally preserved external morphology and internal anatomy, providing crucial information about the earliest panarthropods. Countering orthodox assumptions that neural tissue does not withstand fossilization, the applicant and her colleagues recently reported exceptionally preserved brains and nervous systems from Chengjiang arthropods, which added a fresh injection of data for understanding fossil arthropods and established a new research field, "neuropalaeontology". Further provisional studies have discovered the brain and other neural tissues in even earlier-derived fossil panarthropods, providing vital information regarding the origin of arthropod brains; as well as new discoveries of exceptionally preserved circulatory systems (previously all but unknown in the arthropod fossil record) and sensory structures (e.g. eyes and sense organs on the antennae) from Cambrian panarthropods. Together with their CNS, these provide unique insights into the ecology and evolution of early panarthropods.
The aim of this project is to accurately document the CNS, sensory structures and other internal organ systems from exceptionally preserved Cambrian panarthropods (e.g. lobopodians, anomalocaridids and arthropods) of the Chengjiang and Burgess Shale biotas and compare the data with living groups, so as to increase our understanding of the evolutionary relationships between major groups during the early stages of radiation and divergence.
Planned Impact
This project will use the earliest nervous systems from Cambrian fossils to address fundamental questions about the origin and early evolution of animal life. Its unique outcomes will appeal directly or indirectly to a diverse range of individuals/organisations.
1) Academics: the multidisciplinary nature of the research ensures its relevance to a wide range of scientists, including palaeontologists, neurobiologists, taphonomists, phylogeneticists and evolutionary biologists. Results will be published in high-impact peer-reviewed international journals. The applicant will present the results at national and international conferences. Data generated will be archived in a NERC Data Centre and/or open access websites.
2) Public sector: The Natural History Museum (NHM) in London is a world-leading research institution and a major public engagement centre that attracts 5 million visitors per year. Results from this project will contribute to enhancing the museum's research profile, increase its influence and standing overseas, and encourage more visits. The applicant will facilitate NHM and other UK colleagues establishing further international collaboration, particularly with China.
3) Educators & Students. Results will impact teachers whose purpose is to teach biological and evolutionary knowledge and concepts. The research will assist educators in providing interesting examples of key biological innovations. Consequently, the knowledge held by students of all ages will be enriched, as will their interest and understanding of evolution. The applicant will take up appropriate teaching activities and supervise research students. The NHM attracts 150,000 school visitors each year, with many targeted outreach activities and programmes to provide a forum for Museum scientists to engage with students as well as education professionals, such as "Biology AS and A-level Day".
4) General Public. This research will be attractive and accessible to most laypersons interested in nature. The project will also act as a compelling springboard for communicating to the public the fascination of how life evolved and showing how scientists understand evolution as a process. NHM scientists have a unique opportunity to publicize their results to a wide audience. The applicant will take part in Museum scientific engagement activities, such as Nature Live, and the annual event "Science Uncovered", which attracts 12,000 visitors in one night. To reach a broader public audience, the applicant will work with the NHM Press Office to promote major discoveries from the research.
5) Policy makers. High-impact research on the Chengjiang Lagerstätte will influence international understanding and collaboration between the UK and China. In 2012 UNESCO declared the Chengjiang fossil locality as a World Heritage Site, providing new opportunities to local communities, but also causing conflicts with local phosphate miners. This research will win more conservation support, bring more funding, and attract tourists to the site as a new way to generate economic growth. This international collaboration will bring together Western and Chinese experts who can contribute their knowledge and experience to local policymaking and International collaboration. In 2013, the applicant and her UK and US collaborators held a strategic meeting with the Yuxi Government to discuss how to protect the Chengjiang fossil site and how to use its World Natural Heritage status to benefit local people and the regional economy.
6) Commercial sector. Given that the extensive media and popular science coverage of palaeontology is almost invariably reported in an evolutionary context, various commercial media, such as TV, Internet, newspapers, magazines and books, will profit from this research as will the recipient public.
1) Academics: the multidisciplinary nature of the research ensures its relevance to a wide range of scientists, including palaeontologists, neurobiologists, taphonomists, phylogeneticists and evolutionary biologists. Results will be published in high-impact peer-reviewed international journals. The applicant will present the results at national and international conferences. Data generated will be archived in a NERC Data Centre and/or open access websites.
2) Public sector: The Natural History Museum (NHM) in London is a world-leading research institution and a major public engagement centre that attracts 5 million visitors per year. Results from this project will contribute to enhancing the museum's research profile, increase its influence and standing overseas, and encourage more visits. The applicant will facilitate NHM and other UK colleagues establishing further international collaboration, particularly with China.
3) Educators & Students. Results will impact teachers whose purpose is to teach biological and evolutionary knowledge and concepts. The research will assist educators in providing interesting examples of key biological innovations. Consequently, the knowledge held by students of all ages will be enriched, as will their interest and understanding of evolution. The applicant will take up appropriate teaching activities and supervise research students. The NHM attracts 150,000 school visitors each year, with many targeted outreach activities and programmes to provide a forum for Museum scientists to engage with students as well as education professionals, such as "Biology AS and A-level Day".
4) General Public. This research will be attractive and accessible to most laypersons interested in nature. The project will also act as a compelling springboard for communicating to the public the fascination of how life evolved and showing how scientists understand evolution as a process. NHM scientists have a unique opportunity to publicize their results to a wide audience. The applicant will take part in Museum scientific engagement activities, such as Nature Live, and the annual event "Science Uncovered", which attracts 12,000 visitors in one night. To reach a broader public audience, the applicant will work with the NHM Press Office to promote major discoveries from the research.
5) Policy makers. High-impact research on the Chengjiang Lagerstätte will influence international understanding and collaboration between the UK and China. In 2012 UNESCO declared the Chengjiang fossil locality as a World Heritage Site, providing new opportunities to local communities, but also causing conflicts with local phosphate miners. This research will win more conservation support, bring more funding, and attract tourists to the site as a new way to generate economic growth. This international collaboration will bring together Western and Chinese experts who can contribute their knowledge and experience to local policymaking and International collaboration. In 2013, the applicant and her UK and US collaborators held a strategic meeting with the Yuxi Government to discuss how to protect the Chengjiang fossil site and how to use its World Natural Heritage status to benefit local people and the regional economy.
6) Commercial sector. Given that the extensive media and popular science coverage of palaeontology is almost invariably reported in an evolutionary context, various commercial media, such as TV, Internet, newspapers, magazines and books, will profit from this research as will the recipient public.
Organisations
- Natural History Museum (Collaboration, Lead Research Organisation)
- Lund University (Collaboration)
- University of Arizona (Collaboration)
- University of Florida (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER (Collaboration)
- University of Bath (Collaboration)
- University College Cork (Collaboration)
- Stanford University (Collaboration)
- Yunnan University (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF EXETER (Fellow)
People |
ORCID iD |
Xiaoya Ma (Principal Investigator / Fellow) |
Publications
Zhang G
(2022)
Exceptional soft tissue preservation reveals a cnidarian affinity for a Cambrian phosphatic tubicolous enigma.
in Proceedings. Biological sciences
Zhai D
(2019)
Variation in appendages in early Cambrian bradoriids reveals a wide range of body plans in stem-euarthropods.
in Communications biology
Williams M
(2016)
The spectacular fossils of the 'water margin': the Cambrian biota of Chengjiang, Yunnan, China
in Geology Today
Strausfeld NJ
(2016)
Arthropod eyes: The early Cambrian fossil record and divergent evolution of visual systems.
in Arthropod structure & development
Strausfeld NJ
(2016)
Fossils and the Evolution of the Arthropod Brain.
in Current biology : CB
Shi X
(2021)
Tabelliscolex (Cricocosmiidae: Palaeoscolecidomorpha) from the early Cambrian Chengjiang Biota and the evolution of seriation in Ecdysozoa
in Journal of the Geological Society
Saleh F
(2022)
New fossil assemblages from the Early Ordovician Fezouata Biota.
in Scientific reports
Saleh F
(2021)
A novel tool to untangle the ecology and fossil preservation knot in exceptionally preserved biotas
in Earth and Planetary Science Letters
Saleh F
(2022)
Contrasting Early Ordovician assembly patterns highlight the complex initial stages of the Ordovician Radiation
in Scientific Reports
Description | Exceptionally preserved Cambrian fossils provides a rich and crucial source of information for our understanding of the early evolution of life on Earth. Our research funded through this award has been focused on investigating the full biodiversity from the Cambrian community, revealing the accurate morphological and anatomical features of these ancient animals, exploring their evolutionary relationships and significance, and examine their complex ecosystem. Some main finds from this research award so far are: 1) Discovered brain and other neural structures from a new anomalocaridid, Lyrarapax unguispinus, from the early Cambrian Chengjiang biota, southwest China. The traces of brain provide the first direct evidence for the segmental composition of the anomalocaridid head and its appendicular organization. 2) Discovered the oldest cardiovascular system from the Cambrian arthropod Fuxianhuia protensa. 3) Described brain organisation of Cambrian arthropod fossils of Fuxianhuia protensa, revealing tripartite brain organisation, cephalic nerves, and optic neuropils. Their geochemical analyses provide crucial insights of taphonomic pathways for brain preservation, revealing that neural tissue was initially preserved as carbonaceous film and subsequently pyritized. 4) Systematic investigation on Cambrian arthropod visual systems and their evolutionary implication. 5) Discovered Cricocosmia and Mafangscolex worms that are hosts to aggregates of a new species of tiny worm in the Chengjiang biota. The worm associations suggest the earliest known record of aggregate infestation of the integument of a soft-bodied bilaterian, host specificity and host shift. |
Exploitation Route | 1) Other resourcing issues (e.g. difficulty/delay in securing key equipment), particularly after changing host institutions during my fellowship; 2) Important new research questions opened up; 3) Overly-challenging initial objectives, mainly limited by fossil specimens and their preservation; 4) Changing landscape of the research area in which the grant was awarded; |
Sectors | Creative Economy Education Leisure Activities including Sports Recreation and Tourism Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology Culture Heritage Museums and Collections |
Description | Our research findings have been widely reported by the media globally, which generated a huge amount of public interest. I have also took part in various scientific engagement activities and talked with general public about my research project. Influenced by our research, the policy makers have made text book on Chengjiang biota including many of my research findings to Chinese school nationwide. Local government also decided to build new museum and develop local tourism based on our research. Some fossil specimens from my research have been displayed in some major museums and exhibition in many different countries. |
First Year Of Impact | 2014 |
Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Creative Economy,Education,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
Impact Types | Cultural Economic Policy & public services |
Description | Collaborating with Yuxi government |
Geographic Reach | Asia |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Impact | With the increasing research achievements from the Chengjiang biota and its World Heritage Site fame, Yuxi government wants to use this brand to develop local economy, eduction and culture, and I have been in collaborating with them. So far, a text book about Chengjiang biota including my own research have been published and distributed nationally in China, and it become the mandatory reading material for schools in Yunnan Province. The government decide to built a large Chengjiang (Natural History) museum and develop local tourism industries (including geological tours and production of artefacts inspired from Chengjiang fossil animals). |
Description | Help with the visit of Chinese Minister Counsellor of Cultural Affairs to the NHM |
Geographic Reach | Asia |
Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
Description | Negotiation between the NHM and the Yuxi Government |
Geographic Reach | Asia |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Impact | As part of the NHM policy for increasing the oversea influence and income, I am working with the International Engagement Department at the NHM for negotiating a potential project to design and construct of a Chengjiang museum near Yuxi, Yunnan Province, China. The NHM will provide expertise to the Yuxi government on this museum project. |
Description | 1000plan Program for Young Professionals |
Amount | ¥1,000,000 (CNY) |
Funding ID | c6153002 |
Organisation | National Natural Science Foundation of China |
Sector | Public |
Country | China |
Start | 09/2015 |
End | 09/2018 |
Description | Provincial Innovation Team of Yunnan Province |
Amount | ¥1,000,000 (CNY) |
Funding ID | 2015HC029 |
Organisation | Yunnan Science and Technology Department |
Sector | Public |
Country | China |
Start | 09/2015 |
End | 09/2018 |
Title | Cambrian Trace Fossils |
Description | My research team have been collecting trace fossils from the Cambrian strata in Southwest China, and we are also compiling database for the Cambrian trace fossils records in China. The fossil specimens are protected by Chinese fossil legislation, so they are deposited at the Yunnan Key Laboratory for Palaeobiology, Yunnan University, China. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Provided To Others? | No |
Impact | This work is sill in progress, and the database will be shared with my collaborators and published when the research work is done. |
Description | Cambrian trace fossils |
Organisation | University of Florida |
Department | College of Liberal Arts and Sciences |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I lead the project and a research team of five people in this project. I organise fossil collecting, manage the research team, and guide the team to carry out the research work. |
Collaborator Contribution | My partners are experts in trace fossils, so they provide their expertise and training for my research team. |
Impact | A collaborative field work and training have been organised last year, and the detailed project programme has been defined. We are currently prepare for a review article on Cambrian trace fossils from Southwest China. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Genomic and fossil data of Cycloneuralia |
Organisation | University of Bath |
Department | Department of Biology and Biochemistry |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I provide my expertise in Cambrian cycloneuralian fossils (e.g. priapulids and their relatives) and access to some of these fossils. I monitor the progress of the whole project and I am the main supervisor of the PhD student involved in this collaboration. |
Collaborator Contribution | My Bath partners provide expertise in morphometric and phylogenetic analysis and is also the main supervisor of the PhD student. My Bristol partners provide expertise in molecular phylogeny, molecular clock and expertise on s to some other Cambrian fossils. |
Impact | My PhD student who was fully funded by the NERC DTP scheme worked on this collaborative project under co-supervision from all partners. One paper was published in Journal of the Geological Society (DOI: 10.1144/jgs2021-107). |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Synchrotron Analysis |
Organisation | Stanford University |
Department | SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory |
Country | United States |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | I provide the fossils material and designed the Synchrotron research project on these specimens to find out their geochemical composition |
Collaborator Contribution | My partners provide their expertise in geochemistry and access to the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL) |
Impact | We have carried out some analysis on the fossil material and obtain interesting data. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Synchrotron Analysis |
Organisation | University College Cork |
Department | School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences |
Country | Ireland |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I provide the fossils material and designed the Synchrotron research project on these specimens to find out their geochemical composition |
Collaborator Contribution | My partners provide their expertise in geochemistry and access to the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL) |
Impact | We have carried out some analysis on the fossil material and obtain interesting data. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | The Central Nervous Systems and Sensory Structures of Cambrian Panarthropods |
Organisation | Natural History Museum |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | I am leading this research project and carry out day to day research work. I provide my expertise in fossilised neural structures from exceptionally preserved Cambrian fossils. To my partners at Yunnan University, I also provide access to geochemical analysis and expertise at my host institution NHM; to my partners at the University of Arizona, I also provide access to fossil material and expertise in fossil study. |
Collaborator Contribution | My partners at Yunnan University collect Chengjiang fossils all year around and provide me access to all available fossil specimens for the research project. During my research trips to Yunnan University, they also paid for some of my costs, including flight tickets, accommodation and some field work fees. My partner at University of Arizona is a world-leader in the field of neuroanatomy and he provides expertise in interpreting neural structures. |
Impact | Since the start of my project from August 2014, six papers have been published as a result of this collaboration, four of which are in high-impact journals. The DOI numbers of the five papers are: 1) doi: 10.1038/nature13486; 2) doi: 10.1038/nature13861; 3) doi: 10.1016/j.asd.2015.07.005; 4) doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2015.09.063; 5) doi:10.1098/rstb.2015.0038; 6) doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2016.09.012. Our research results were reported by the media globally. This is multidisciplinary project, involving disciplines of palaeontology, neurobiology, evolutionary biology, ecology, geology, geochemistry, and sedimentology |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | The Central Nervous Systems and Sensory Structures of Cambrian Panarthropods |
Organisation | University of Arizona |
Department | Department of Neuroscience |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I am leading this research project and carry out day to day research work. I provide my expertise in fossilised neural structures from exceptionally preserved Cambrian fossils. To my partners at Yunnan University, I also provide access to geochemical analysis and expertise at my host institution NHM; to my partners at the University of Arizona, I also provide access to fossil material and expertise in fossil study. |
Collaborator Contribution | My partners at Yunnan University collect Chengjiang fossils all year around and provide me access to all available fossil specimens for the research project. During my research trips to Yunnan University, they also paid for some of my costs, including flight tickets, accommodation and some field work fees. My partner at University of Arizona is a world-leader in the field of neuroanatomy and he provides expertise in interpreting neural structures. |
Impact | Since the start of my project from August 2014, six papers have been published as a result of this collaboration, four of which are in high-impact journals. The DOI numbers of the five papers are: 1) doi: 10.1038/nature13486; 2) doi: 10.1038/nature13861; 3) doi: 10.1016/j.asd.2015.07.005; 4) doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2015.09.063; 5) doi:10.1098/rstb.2015.0038; 6) doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2016.09.012. Our research results were reported by the media globally. This is multidisciplinary project, involving disciplines of palaeontology, neurobiology, evolutionary biology, ecology, geology, geochemistry, and sedimentology |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | The Ecology and Environment of the Chengjiang Biota |
Organisation | University of Leicester |
Department | Leicester Precision Medicine Institute |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Hospitals |
PI Contribution | I provide my expertise in taphonomy and Chengjiang ecology. I monitor the progress of the project and actively involve in all aspects of it. I co-write the manuscript. |
Collaborator Contribution | My Leicester partners provide their expertise in taphonomy, stratigraphy and palaeoecology. My Yunnan partner provide his expertise in geochemistry. |
Impact | We have published a paper together in 2018, and we are going to submit another one in near future. At the same time, we are co-supervise a Chinese PhD student on biostratigraphic correlations in the Chengjiang biota. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | The Ecology and Environment of the Chengjiang Biota |
Organisation | Yunnan University |
Country | China |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I provide my expertise in taphonomy and Chengjiang ecology. I monitor the progress of the project and actively involve in all aspects of it. I co-write the manuscript. |
Collaborator Contribution | My Leicester partners provide their expertise in taphonomy, stratigraphy and palaeoecology. My Yunnan partner provide his expertise in geochemistry. |
Impact | We have published a paper together in 2018, and we are going to submit another one in near future. At the same time, we are co-supervise a Chinese PhD student on biostratigraphic correlations in the Chengjiang biota. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | ToF-SIMS Geochemical Analysis |
Organisation | Lund University |
Department | Department of Geology |
Country | Sweden |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We are investigating the remains of molecular compound from the dark carbonaceous parts of Cambrian fossil specimens, particularly the eye regions. In this collaboration, I provide: 1) my expertise in Chengjiang fossil taphonomy and Cambrian panarthropod fossils and their visual systems; 2) access to fossil material for geochemical analyses; 3) intellectual discussion with my partner regarding the project development and interpretation of the analysis results. |
Collaborator Contribution | In the collaboration, my parterner provide: 1) his expertise in pigment preservation in fossil material; 2) access to Time-of-Flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS); 3) he leads the project, carries out TOF-SIMS analysis and interpret the raw data. |
Impact | We have generated some interesting data, and now we are preparing for two manuscripts that will be submitted in 2022. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | An International Conference on the Rise of Animal Life-Cambrian and Ordovician biodiversification events |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I presented a talk titled "Unlocking Central Nervous Systems of Cambrian Chengjiang Panarthropods and Their Preservation Pathways". |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Attending and Presenting at a meeting titled "Emergence of Complex Life" at t All Souls College, Oxford |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | It is a small meeting held at All Souls College, Oxford on the Emergence of Complex Life. The meeting aims to bring leading geologists, geochemists, palaeontologists, and molecular biologists from across the UK together, all of whom work on the Proterozoic-Palaeozoic emergence of complex life. The meeting will strengthen collaborative frameworks for continued investigation. Each attendee was invited to give a short presentation on their current work in this area. The talks will be organized around six major themes: (1) Temporal context, (2) Geochemical context, (3) Earth system dynamics, (4) Molecular fossils and modern analogues, (5) pre-Cambrian fossil record, (6) Cambrian fossil record. Ample time were afforded to discussion. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Engaged with "Women in Science" activities |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I was interviewed and written about for the article called "Inspiring women in science and research at the Natural History Museum", which is published at the NHM website and various social media. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | http://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/women-in-science-and-research-at-the-natural-history-museum.html |
Description | Examine a PhD at the University of Oxford on 22-24th January, 2019 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | I acted as the External Examiner for Dr. Stephen Pates at the Department of Zoology, University of Oxford |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Guest editing a theme issue of Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I was invited to guest edit a theme issue called "The impact of Chinese palaeontology on evolutionary research", which was published on 7th February, 2022. I was also involved in various press release after the publication of this issue. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/toc/rstb/2022/377/1847 |
Description | Hodson Award report |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | A small report about my Hodson Award was published on the Palaeontological Association Newsletter (Issue: 100) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | IGCP Project 591-Field Workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I presented a talk titled "Deep Thoughts from Deep Time-Central Nervous Systems of Cambrian Panarthropods" at this conference |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Interview by New Scientist |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I was interviewed by a journalist from New Scientists about a paper that I reviewed for the Nature Communications |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.newscientist.com/article/2244897-oldest-known-parasite-is-a-worm-like-animal-from-512-mi... |
Description | Interviewed by a journalist from Science |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | I was interviewed by Science journalist Joshua Sokol on 4th September 2018, and my work was subsequently reported in his featured article titled "Some of Earth's first animals-including a mysterious, alien-looking creature-are spilling out of Canadian rocks", which was published in Science on 20th November, 2018 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/11/some-earth-s-first-animals-including-mysterious-alien-lookin... |
Description | Invited Talk at the EuroEvoDevo 2016 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I was invited to give a talk at the symposium "Old Questions, Young Approaches" at the Sixth Meeting of European Society for Evolutionary Developmental Biology, in Uppsala, Sweden, 26-29th July 2016. The audience was dominantly biologists, so they were intrigued by my talk about evolutionary developmental and neurobiological studies in palaeontology, so I have been approached a lot during the conference for questions or discussion. The organisers invited me to write a book chapter on my talk topic, and the book will be published by Springer. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Invited article on Nature Ecology & Evolution Community |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Following the publication of our paper on Nature Ecology & Evolution, I was invited to write the story behind the research at Nature Ecology & Evolution Community website. The article is entitled "A Cambrian Can of Worms". |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://natureecoevocommunity.nature.com/users/25939-xiaoya-ma/posts/19679-a-cambrian-can-of-worms |
Description | Invited by Current Biology to present a talk in a palaeontology webinar |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | I was invited by Current Biology to give a talk in a palaeontology webinar on 28th September, 2020. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Invited keynote speaker at the 5th International Congress on Invertebrate Morphology (ICIM 5), Vienna, Australia. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I was invited to give a keynote talk at the 5th ICIM5 meeting, titled "A Can of Cambrian Worms"; I also organised "Morphology in Deep Time" symposium. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://icim5-2022.univie.ac.at/ |
Description | Invited keynote talk at the Palaeontological Association's 65th Annual Meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I was invited to give a keynote talk at the special themed symposium on "The Problem with Problematica" at the Palaeontological Association's 65th Annual Meeting, which was held on 18th to 20th December 2021. My talk title was "A Can of Cambrian Worms". |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Invited seminar at Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | I'm invited by the Lyon geology department to speak in their European Seminar series on 7-10th October 2019. This is their most important annual seminar series, with the goal of inviting experts in their fields of research from around Europe to give a talk in Lyon and spend a moment with us and our students. The invited speakers to give a departmental seminar as well as a course/discussion for their first-year masters students in order to introduce them to the European scientific community. The department seminar is at 14:00 on a Monday (about a 50 min long talk), and the audience consists of scientists with diverse research interests and our graduate students. The course is from 9:00 to 12:00 on Tuesday morning, and there is no special format to respect - the goal is simply to promote interaction with the students and get them thinking about a new research perspective. Often, the invited speaker will present some of their research and then lead a discussion of papers that the students have read ahead of time (exercises with the students are also welcome). And there is of course time for a nice dinner, Lyon being well known for its cuisine! (trip expenses are covered, of course) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Invited speaker at 16th Annual Meeting of Japanese Society of Evolutionary Studies |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | As an invited speaker, I presented a talk titled "Deep Thoughts from Deep Time-Central Nervous Systems of Cambrian Panarthropods" at this conference. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Invited talk at the Department of Geology, University of Leicester |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I was invited to give a talk titled "Deep Thoughts from Deep Time-Exploring the Oldest Fossil Brains from Cambrian Panarthropods and Their Exceptional Preservation". |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Invited talk at the GeolSoc Events, University of Derby |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | I was invited to give a talk titled "Exceptionally preserved fossils from China". |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Invited talk at the International Conference on the Cambrian Explosion |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I have been invited to give a talk titled "Origin and Early Radiation of Panarthropoda--Insights from the Chengjiang Biota" at the International Conference on the Cambrian Explosion, which was held at Chengjiang, China, on 11-15th November 2019, by the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology (NIGPAS), Chinese Academy of Sciences. This talk has reached many researcher in my close academic circle and sparked good discussion afterwards. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | http://www.nigpas.cas.cn/xwzx/zhxw/201911/t20191126_5442818.html |
Description | Invited talk at the JT Biohistory Research Hall, Takatsuki, Japan |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I was invited to give a talk titled "The Chengjiang Biota-The Flowering of Early Animal Life". |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Invited talk at the LLPS in Leicester |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | I was invited to give a talk at the the Geology Section of the Leicester Literary and Philosophical Society on 30th November, 2016. The audience showed a great interest in my talk, which sparked many questions from the audience. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Invited talk at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I was invited to give an evening public talk titled "The Origin and Early Evolution of Organ Systems" at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History on 16th January, 2020. This is part of their First Animal exhibition, which I also helped. The feedback from organiser show that there are a total of 126 attendees, and some people travelled for 2 hours to attend. The audience was very engaged and left some very positive feedback on the evaluation forms as well as on Twitter. Some examples that I was given are below: 1) In one sentence, please describe your experience of tonight: "Eye opening and informative" "I learnt about complex nervous systems - they appeared earlier than I thought" "Brilliant talk!! (should have had 2 hours!)" "Preservation reveals fascinating insights into evolution" 2) Has this lecture changed your opinion about the study of fossils or added to your understanding of the topic? If so, how? [I learned about the] "Importance of studying decay/decomposition/preservation processes for interpretation" "I had no idea that the Yunnan province was such a hub of evolutionary research!" "It added to my knowledge of fossils - interesting insider info from the researcher - I will come to see the exhibition" [I now have a] "Greater appreciation of the technical side of their study (in particular the techniques we use to illuminate questions about them)" |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://oumnh.ox.ac.uk/event/origin-and-early-evolution-of-organ-systems |
Description | Invited talk at the Palaeontology Research Group, Bristol University |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I was invited to give a talk titled "The Chengjiang Biota: 30 Years of Research". |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Invited talk at the University of Lausanne |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I was invited to give a department seminar titled "Exceptionally Preserved Chengjiang Fossils" at the Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Lausanne, Switzerland, on 30th September, 2019. During this talk and some social activities afterwards, I have talked with various researchers in close field for potential collaboration. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://agenda.unil.ch/recherche/?channel=iste |
Description | Keynote talk at the 3rd Palaeontological Virtual Congress |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I was invited to give a keynote talk at the 3rd Palaeontological Virtual Congress, which was held on 1st to 15th December 2021, and my talk title was THE ORIGIN AND EARLY EVOLUTION OF ORGAN SYSTEMS. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Lyme Regis Fossil Festival |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | As part of the NHM team, I participated the Lyme Regis Fossil Festival in 2016 and communicated with the general public about palaeontological research. It was a great event and have attracted a large number of visitors over the three-day event, which sparked many questions and discussion. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.fossilfestival.co.uk/ |
Description | NHM Nature Live Public lecture |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I have taken part in the regular scientific engagement activities "Nature Live" at the Natural History Museum, during which about I present my research to 50 public visitor and answer their questions. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2015 |
Description | Organise the 1st AsiaEvo Conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I organised and chaired a symposium titled "Origin and early evolution of organ systems" at the 1st AsiaEvo Conference, which was held at Shenzhen, China on 17-20th April. I also give a keynote talk during this session. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | http://asianevo.org/programme/topics.html |
Description | Palaeontological Association 59th Annual Meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I presented a talk titled "Unlocking the Preservation Pathways of Cambrian Neural Tissue". |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Participated in an Open day in our department at the Pre-Application Visitor day |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | I participated the open day at the Pre-Application Visitor day at the Centre for Ecology & Conservation, University of Exeter, on 21st September, 2019. We welcomed a lot of visitors and potential candidates for our university, and addressed various questions. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Participated in the "Science in the Square" outreach event |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I have participated the "Science in the Square" outreach event organised by the Centre for Ecology & Conservation, University of Exeter, in Falmouth, Cornwall, on 17th August. It is our biggest outreach event of each year and attracted thousands visitors, mainly kids with their parents. It is a great opportunity to promote the university and our work to local community, as well as get people engaged in nature and sciences. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | http://www.exeter.ac.uk/cornwall/scienceinthesquare/ |
Description | Participated in the Brain 3.0 exhibition at Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisbon, Portugal |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I provided one of the Fuxianhuia specimens that I published in Nature in 2012 to the Brain 3.0 exhibition by Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, at Lisbon, Portugal, from 15th March to 10th June 2019. Brain 3.0 is an exhibition about the brain and how it generates a mind, and the Fuxianhuia specimen YKLP 11321 were displayed in the Evolution Module of the exhibition, and I also helped with the narratives. The exhibition has reached a wide audience of the general public and a book was published from the exhibition. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://gulbenkian.pt/en/agenda/brain-wider-than-the-sky/ |
Description | Participated the First Animals exhibition at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I helped with the First Animals exhibition at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, from 12th July 2019 to 1st September 2020. I provided some Chengjiang fossil specimens for the exhibition and helped with interpretation etc. The exhibition has been really successful, so it is extended from the original six-month exhibition to one and half of a year. This exhibition is very educational for the general public and has generated a lot of discussions and media coverage. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020 |
URL | https://oumnh.ox.ac.uk/first-animals-exhibition |
Description | Present a talk at PalAss 2017 Annual Meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I present a talk entitled "The Earliest Evidence of Metazoan Symbiosis", which sparked some questions and discussion afterwards |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Presenting at the 11th North American Paleontological Convention |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I presented a talk titled "Why is the Chengjiang Biota exceptionally well preserved" at the NAPC 2019 conference, which was held at the University of California, Riverside, June 23-27, 2019. My talk reached to a wider range of audience that I don't normally meet in the UK or European conferences, and I received very good feedback from audience. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://napc2019.ucr.edu/ |
Description | Presenting at the 1st Asian Palaeontological Congress |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I presented a talked titled "Why is the Chengjiang Biota exceptionally well preserved?" at the 1st Asian Palaeontological Congress, which was held in Beijing, China on 17-19th November, 2019. The talk was well received by audience, and I had the opportunity to discuss with palaeontologists from other Asian countries. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | http://www.palaeo-soc-japan.jp/info/1stAPC_SecondCircular.pdf |
Description | Presenting at the 5th Chinese Palaeontology Young Scholars Forum |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I presented a talk titled "Discussion on the exceptional taphonomic mechanism of the Chengjiang Biota (??????????????)" at the 5th Chinese Palaeontology Young Scholars Forum (??????????????), which was held at the Yunnan University, Kunming, China on 23-24 November, 2019. The talk sparked discussion afterwards. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | http://www.yklp.ynu.edu.cn/info/1012/1537.htm |
Description | Presenting at the PalAss annual meeting in Bristol on 14-17th December, 2018 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I presented a talk titled "Why is the Chengjiang Biota exceptionally well preserved" at the PalAss annual meeting, which is held at Bristol on 14-17th December 2018. I received very good feedback from audience. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.palass.org/meetings-events/annual-meeting/2018/annual-meeting-2018-bristol-overview |
Description | Press release about Facivermis paper on Current Biology |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | With the publication of our Facivermis paper on Current Biology, we made a successful press release, which generated a wide media report globally. These media reports helped to promote our research significantly and to engage general public with palaeontology. Almetric attention score is 1097, and the story was reported in at least 120 news outlets, including New Scientist, Daily Mail and many other major media. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://institutions.newscientist.com/article/2235594-weird-worm-is-earliest-known-animal-to-evolve-... |
Description | Press release on symbiotic worms |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Various activities related to the press release on our paper published on Nature Ecology and Evolution |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170830121110.htm |
Description | Science Uncovered-European Researchers Night |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | This is an annual scientific engagement event funded by EU and hosted at the NHM, and it attracts thousands visitors for an one-evening event. I have stand to display fossils, models and digital reconstructions from my research to the general public, during which I talk with visitors and answer their questions. In 2015, I proposed to use this event as one of NERC's 50th celebration activities, so after the cooperative organisation between the NERC and the NHM, several NERC ambassador took part in this event. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011,2012,2013,2015 |
URL | http://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit/exhibitions/science-uncovered-2015.html |
Description | Systematic Association Biennial Conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I presented a talk titled "Phylogeny and Evolutionary Significance of Cambrian Scalidophorans". |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | The 28th Annual Meeting of Palaeontological Society of China |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I presented a talk titled "The Central Nervous System of Cambrian Panarthropods and Their Exceptional Preservation". |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | The 3rd International Congress on Invertebrate Morphology |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I presented a talk titled "Central Nervous Systems and Sensory Organs of Cambrian Panarthropods" at this conference. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | The 4th International Palaeontological Congress |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I presented a talk titled "Origin and Early Diversification of Arthropod Visual Systems" at this conference. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | The First Forum of Young Palaeontologists in China |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I presented a talk titled "The Central Nervous System of Early Cambrian Panarthropods and Their Exceptional Preservation". |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Video for First Animals exhibition at Oxford University Museum of Natural History |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I have done a short video for First Animals exhibition at Oxford University Museum of Natural History. In the video, I explained about the exceptionally preserved fossils from the Cambrian biota and their significance for our understanding about early evolution. The video is shown at Oxford University Museum of Natural History throughout the First Animal exhibition, and it is also on the Youtube website. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjJAS8Io-bE |
Description | Work with the media |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Each year we have research papers are published in high-profile journal (e.g. Nature, Nature Communications, Current Biology, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society), and press officer from the NHM and my collaborators' institution have done really good job for press release, therefore we have attracted a huge amount of media attention globally. As part of this activities, I have been interviewed by radio, newspaper, magazine, website etc., and I have to respond to various request by the journalists. There are too many such engagement activities to be listed out individually here. Below is the URL of one of the latest report by The Scientist. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012,2013,2014,2015 |
URL | http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/44765/title/To-Retain-a-Brain/ |
Description | Worked on podcast "The Backpacker's Guide To Prehistory" |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I was invited by David Mountain to work on his podcast "The Backpacker's Guide To Prehistory". The podcast aims to explore prehistory in the guise of a travel show, which make the subject a bit more relatable and a little less daunting for listeners. I appeared in the podcast as an expert for an episode on the Cambrian. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | the Royal Society focus group meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | I was invited to participate a focus group meeting about how the Royal Society can best make fellowship schemes available to strong early career individuals seeking to move into the status of independent researcher. The meeting was held on 2nd September, 2016, at the Royal Society. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |