On the afternoon of June 3rd, the welcome ceremony for the joint geological exploration of Chinese and American students was held at Guizhou University. This collaborative endeavor, co-organized by Guizhou University and Trinity University in the United States, will embark on a three-week geological expedition across the provinces of Guizhou and Yunnan. The program aims to facilitate academic exchange and deepen cooperation in the field of earth science research between universities in the twocountries.

At the ceremony, Zhou Shaoqi, Vice President of GZU, provided an overview of the university’s recent advancements in teaching and research. He congratulated the attendees on the fourth joint geological field investigation engaging Chinese and American students, emphasizing the significance of this collaborative endeavor. Zhou highlighted that all the university’s departments had placed great importance on this cooperation and had made extensive preparations forits successful organization. Through this joint project, he hopes to further deepenthe cooperation between Chinese and American universities in the realms of research and teaching, thereby promoting the mutual development of both sides in the field of earth science research. Additionally, he encouraged the participating students to make the most of this valuable opportunity, actively engage in learning, foster effective communication, and demonstrate a commendable spirit throughout the investigation.

Professor Lehrmann from Trinity University stated that Guizhou is an ideal area for studying Triassic geology. This exploration will provide valuable opportunities for students, especially in research areas such as the evolution of Triassic carbonate platform, the end-Permian mass extinction event, and the revival of Triassic bio-reefs. He believes that itwillalso promote bilateral scientific research cooperation, enrich students' knowledge, and enhance their field competencies.

Following Professor Lehrmann’s speech, both sides engaged in in-depth discussions and expressed their commitment to further deepen cooperation in the field of earth science, including research, teaching, talent exchange, and development, with the mutual expectation of achieving more fruitful outcomes.

The twenty-four students partaking in this research expedition hail from an esteemed array of academic institutions, including Trinity University, Pennsylvania State University, Northwest University, Chengdu University of Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, and Guizhou University.

Editor: Li Xuefei

Chief Editor: Pang Aizhong

Senior Editor: Li Xufeng

Translator: Tan Jing