On 26^th of November, Beijing Museum of Natural History hosted an “Online Symposium on Trends and Challenges of International Natural History Museums”. The symposium invited the persons in charge of natural museums at home and abroad to talk about the innovative development of museums in the new era.

Zheng Huanmin, the president of the BJAST, delivered an opening speech for the symposium. Zheng Huanmin pointed out that the construction of the new natural museum is actively advancing, and the concept of opening up is being implemented. All parties are welcome to actively participate in the joint construction and look forward to the intellectual support of domestic and foreign experts and joint efforts with domestic and international museums.

During the keynote speech and discussion session, Kim McKay, the director and CEO of the Australian Museum, Wang Xiaoming, the director of the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum, Anna Klyukina, the director of the Darwin Museum of Russia, Wang Yuan, the director of the Paleozoological Museum of China, Tamar Dayan, the chairman of the Council of Israel's Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Yan Hongming, the director of Zhejiang Museum of Nature History, and Meng Qingjin, the director of Beijing Museum of Natural History, delivered speeches successively. Participants from more than ten museums at home and abroad asked questions and carried out academic mutual learning.

This symposium showcased the industry development status of museums of natural history and the opportunities and challenges faced in the future from an international perspective, and is of guiding significance for promoting the innovative development of natural history museums.