Dr. Christopher Burn, Past-President of the IPA, was invited in November 2025 by the State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering (SKL-CSFSE), Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources (NIEER), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), for a two-week academic exchange visit. He was supported by the CAS President’s International Fellowship Initiative (PIFI) Distinguished Scientist Program. Dr. Lin Chen, the IPA Secretariat and the Vice-Director of SKL-CSFSE, is the host researcher at the CAS.
During his trip to Lanzhou, Dr. Burn delivered a special workshop titled “Scientific Paper Writing” with faculty and students of NIEER, sharing insights into the academic writing process and best practices. Over the following three days, he visited the Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes, CAS, in Xining, Qinghai, and traveled through the Qilian Mountains, where he visited research test sites and traveled through the various landscapes. He was particularly impressed by the extensive grassland environment at high elevation that might resemble Pleistocene Beringia.
In the subsequent days, Dr. Burn toured the experimental facilities of the SKL-CSFSE, engaging in in-depth discussions with researchers on equipment applications and technical advancements. On November 14th, he gave another presentation focusing on the Illisarvik field experiment, introducing cutting-edge research progress in permafrost field studies. On November 15th, he engaged in a comprehensive discussion with Dr. Mingyi Zhang, the Vice-Chair of the NIEER and Director of the SKL-CSFSE, focusing on strengthening future cooperation in permafrost research, field monitoring, and international collaboration.
This marks Dr. Burn’s first visit to China. Dr. Burn was pleased to see several Chinese colleagues whom he had met through the activities of the IPA, including the IPA Vice President (Dr. Fujun Niu), former the EC members, National Representative, and the Action Group’s PI. He praised the Institute for its advanced and comprehensive experimental equipment, and expressed great enjoyment of his travel experience and Chinese cuisine during the trip.
Provided by Christopher Burn, Zhuangzhuang Liu, Haikun Qin, & Lin Chen
