1.I noticed that the 5th Beijing Academic and Popular Science Conference on "Environment, Animals, and Human Health" was recently held at Minzu University of China in June, and you were the conference host. The conference aimed to promote the intersection and integration of environmental science, animal science, and basic medicine, encourage technological innovation, and enhance public scientific literacy regarding environmental health. Could you please introduce the main aspects of research in nature, biology, and human health, particularly from the perspective of natural and environmental science? What are the current cutting-edge research directions?

Professor Zhang: Humans are members of the Earth's ecosystem, and our survival depends on natural resources. Therefore, human activities should follow the operating mechanisms of natural ecosystems, which is the theoretical basis of the ecological civilization advocated in our country.

Currently, the following are some of the key research areas in the forefront of nature and environmental sciences:

-- How can natural resources be utilized reasonably? For example, what ecological and environmental impacts can be caused by the use of fossil fuels, which contribute to global climate change? How can humans reduce the use of fossil fuels? Additionally, plant-based medicines have excellent therapeutic effects, but the destruction of plant resources is a concern. By transferring genes responsible for synthesizing effective medicinal components into engineered microorganisms, the biosynthesis of plant-based medicines can be achieved as an alternative, which protects plant resources while obtaining high yields of medicinal components.

-- How can natural ecosystems be protected? For instance, the health of natural ecosystems requires biodiversity, and measures should be taken to minimize human activities' damage to ecosystems. Currently, the main approach in China for protecting natural ecosystems is the establishment of national parks. How to plan and manage these protected areas are important research topics.

-- How does the environment affect human health? For example, in the case of globally spreading viruses like the novel coronavirus, avian influenza, and swine flu, these viruses originate in wildlife. Why do they spread among human populations? How can we prevent diseases caused by these viruses? Additionally, how do widespread environmental chemical pollutants affect human health? How can pollution be prevented? How can diseases caused by pollution be treated?

These are the main areas of research in natural and environmental sciences currently. The overall goal is to serve the sustainable survival and development of humanity.

2.During this summer vacation, I participated in the Berkeley Summer School and chose to study "Earth and Planetary Science." Through studying and researching related knowledge in geography, biology, chemistry, etc., I feel that the study of life and environmental sciences is a systematic endeavor that requires the integration of various disciplines. My interest in studying the subjects related to natural ecology has also grown. Additionally, I learned that you published an article last year specifically discussing the "professional development in ecology." Could you please provide guidance on the evolving field of discipline construction as the times progress? What kind of educational and professional background is required for choosing a major related to nature, ecology, and the environment? What should one pay attention to during studies? What are the possibilities for further education or employment in the future?

Professor Zhang: Majors related to ecology and the environment require a foundation in biology, geography, physics, chemistry, mathematics, and other disciplines. Ecosystems are very complex systems, and understanding the mechanisms of complex systems requires the use of mathematical models. Therefore, if you want to engage in ecological or environmental research in the future, I recommend that you major in mathematics or applied mathematics during your undergraduate studies, with a minor in environmental science, chemistry, or geoscience. Mathematics is the foundation of many natural sciences. For example, if you want to go hunting, you need to prepare a hunting gun first, rather than just watching others hunt in movies for a long time. Mathematics is like the hunting gun; once you have the gun, you can learn how to use it effectively. However, you might wonder why you can't first learn about the hunting process and then make a gun. That's because learning mathematics is more challenging and requires more time during your undergraduate studies, while understanding environmental issues can be accomplished in a shorter period. The employment prospects for majors related to ecology and the environment mainly include positions in environmental government agencies, non-governmental organizations, environmental monitoring institutions, environmental inspection companies, and academic positions at universities.

3.In the past, some people criticized majors in biology, chemistry, and materials science as "bottomless pits" due to their low employment rates. I believe that a more balanced view is necessary. In recent years, there have been significant breakthroughs in the field of cutting-edge biotechnology. AI has developed rapidly and has also accelerated the intelligentization of the life sciences. For example, artificial intelligence can accurately predict protein structures based on amino acid sequences, which can help solve various problems in areas such as crop yield increase, drug design, pathology investigation, and plastic degradation. It can be seen that, on one hand, in terms of scientific research and teaching, with the awakening of environmental awareness, the development of biotechnology and AI technology, and the expansion of emerging application fields, the field of life and environmental sciences is rapidly advancing, and there is a clear trend of interdisciplinary integration. On the other hand, the application and transformation of scientific and technological achievements, as well as personal career planning, face a series of challenges such as employment.

(1) Could you please share your views on the above questions?

(2) I will be applying for American universities this year, and I have an interest in mathematics, computer science, and nature. Could you provide guidance on which specific areas of specialization in the field of life and environmental sciences would be suitable and have promising prospects in the future?

Professor Zhang: You already have a good understanding of the prospects in life sciences. This field requires a strong passion for learning, which will provide you with innovative inspiration and the patience to endure solitude. Generally, this major requires a doctoral degree. If you are interested in biopharmaceuticals, you should study biological sciences during your undergraduate studies. American medical schools admit students who have studied biological sciences at the undergraduate level, which will allow you to choose medicine or pharmacy for further doctoral studies after graduation.

4.Several years ago, you published an article discussing "phenological mismatches caused by global warming and the adaptive mechanisms of organisms," which listed the phenomena of mismatched predator-prey relationships in marine ecosystems caused by climate warming. It feels like a "butterfly effect" where global warming determines the adaptability of species, and due to the complexity of ecosystems, changes in one species can trigger changes in other related species, leading to a chain reaction that affects the stability of the ecosystem. At the time, you proposed that "the adaptive mechanisms of species to phenological mismatches and the impact of phenological mismatches on biodiversity and ecosystem stability will be a hot research area in future global climate change ecology." I found that your current main research directions are: the physiological response mechanisms of animals to environmental changes, and the impact of climate change on the stability of grassland ecosystems in northern China. I feel that in terms of academic research, you are able to see the significance in the details, have clear goals, are good at thinking and seeking development opportunities, and consistently delve deep into research and practice, achieving excellent results. I am starting my senior year of high school and often feel that I haven't been exposed to a lot of knowledge or delved deeply into it, so I am still unsure about what I am truly interested in and suitable for. Could you please share what major you studied in university? And in your undergraduate, master's, and doctoral stages, what factors did you consider when choosing your research direction? Which knowledge and skills you learned are particularly important in your current work?

Professor Zhang: Choosing a major mainly involves combining personal interests with future career directions. While satisfying one's interests and hobbies, it is also important to consider which majors have a clearer career prospects. In high school, I was interested in biology and also hoped to become a teacher, so I applied for a biology major at a normal university. After university, I chose the field of animal ecology that I found interesting. Interest is the source of inspiration, allowing me to focus on a specific field in subsequent research and continuously discover new problems. The knowledge I gained in university serves as the foundation for my research, but learning is a lifelong process. Many of the knowledge I learned in university has been updated, so I need to constantly absorb new knowledge from papers published by others. Regardless of the field, it is important to maintain lifelong learning.

5.Last year, ChatGPT came into being, bringing positive or negative impacts to many industries. Could you please talk about the new changes that have occurred in the field of life and environmental sciences under the background of scientific and technological progress and global ecological restoration? Has artificial intelligence and data intelligence had any impact on the field of life and environmental sciences? What impact will this have on our future learning?

Note: From the perspective of biological science, the rapid development of high-tech fields such as computer science and information technology, biological science, and biotechnology have made biological science one of the most active disciplines in the 21st century, with an increasingly significant impact on society, economy, technology, and politics. From an environmental perspective, "green water and green mountains are as valuable as mountains of gold and silver." The United Nations General Assembly has decided to launch the "UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030" action plan. The global mission of this initiative is to restore billions of hectares of ecosystems, from forests to farmlands, from mountains to deep seas. Biochemicals, environmental materials, agriculture, forestry, and ocean industries are all strategic basic industries for countries, and the topic of the environment is becoming increasingly important. Related majors in environmental science and engineering are also receiving more attention from society.

Professor Zhang: Artificial intelligence has been applied in the field of biology, such as protein structure analysis, big data omics analysis, drug design, etc. It should also have applications in the field of ecology and environment, but I am not very familiar with it. Artificial intelligence can help humans accomplish massive data analysis that is difficult for the human brain to achieve, which should further promote the in-depth research in life sciences. If you wish to pursue a major in biology, it is beneficial to study more mathematics and computer courses during your undergraduate years, which will contribute to your subsequent in-depth research

6.You have taught at domestic universities and have also visited the University of California, Davis for academic exchange. You are familiar with the development trends of the profession both domestically and internationally, as well as the teaching and research environment. Could you please talk about the similarities and differences between studying in China and studying abroad, particularly in terms of information retrieval, resource acquisition, research methods, and scientific collaboration? What should one pay attention to when studying for an undergraduate degree in the United States?

Professor Zhang: Academic resources in American universities are very abundant, and the libraries and electronic academic resources on campus can meet all your learning needs. The assessment methods for courses in the United States usually include readings and assignments, and the workload is relatively heavy. The classroom atmosphere for undergraduate students in the United States is very active, and classmates can ask questions at any time. Undergraduate students in the United States do not have administrative management and are not divided into classes. They arrange all their academic and personal lives by themselves. After the orientation upon enrollment, you need to arrange your own course selection. There are many extracurricular clubs for university students, and you can choose to join based on your personal strengths. Whether in China or the United States, academic performance (GPA) is important in university, as it is related to your future pursuit of a graduate degree, so you should strive to study hard. Additionally, when applying for graduate programs, it is important to have research experience, so it is advisable to participate in relevant activities accordingly.

Interviewee: Professor Shuping Zhang
Interview Date: August 2023
Interview Format: Written and Phone Interview
Interviewer:Tianwei Li

Interviewee's introduction:
Professor Shuping Zhang is from the School of Life and Environmental Sciences at Minzu University of China. She is a professor, doctoral supervisor, and the head of the Department of Biology. She obtained her Ph.D. from Beijing Normal University and completed her postdoctoral research at the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. She has also been a visiting scholar at the University of California, Davis. Her research interests include the physiological responses of animals to environmental changes and the impact of climate change on the stability of grassland ecosystems in northern China. She has led research projects including the Study on the Developmental Plasticity and Ecological Adaptability of Embryonic Response to Temperature Change in the Short-toed Lark funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and the Research on Phenotypic Plasticity of Nutrient Mismatch in the Short-toed Lark in Inner Mongolia Grassland in Response to Climate Change, the Study on the Microevolutionary Potential of Reproductive Endocrine and Behavioral Rhythms of Passerine Birds in the Northeastern Grasslands of Inner Mongolia in Response to Global Climate Change, and the Research on the Chronic Stress Response of Birds to Urbanization and Its Impact on Population Dynamics.