On May 16-17, the mid-term self-examination conference of the National Key R&D Program "Earth System and Global Change" key special project "Environmental Causes and Ecological Reconstruction of the Cambrian Explosion", presided over by Professor Zhang Zhifei from the Department of Geology of our university, was held at the Taibai campus. Chen Fulin, member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and Vice President of our university, project responsibility expert, leader of the inspection expert group, and researcher Zhu Xiangkun from the Institute of Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, as well as members of the expert group including Professor Liu Jianbo and Professor Huang Baochun from Peking University, Professor Luo Genming from China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), and Professor Tang Qing from Nanjing University attended the meeting. Professor Zhang Zhifei, the project leader, the head of the Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Geology of our university, and more than 50 experts from our university, the Institute of Geology and Geophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and other units, as well as key research subjects and graduate representatives, attended the meeting. In his speech, Chen Fulin stated that the Cambrian Explosion was one of the most magnificent events in the history of Earth's life evolution, and understanding its environmental triggers and ecological reconstruction mechanisms is of great scientific significance for understanding the evolution of Earth's livability. The school will fully support the implementation of the project, providing important support and high-quality resources for talent cultivation, exchange and cooperation, and condition guarantee. He believes that with the collective collaboration of the project team, more iconic achievements with international influence will be produced. Professor Zhang Zhifei, the project leader, introduced the requirements of the project management organization for mid-term inspections and reported on the overall implementation and phased achievements of the project. The project leaders and research backbones reported on the relevant highlights and achievements.

The expert group reviewed the mid-term materials of the project, listened to the project report, and conducted inquiries and discussions around the project organization and implementation, research progress, output of results, and follow-up plans. The expert group unanimously believes that the overall organization of the project is orderly, and significant achievements have been made in the core scientific issue of the environmental causes and ecological reconstruction of the Cambrian Explosion. It has formed distinct characteristics in the research of multi circle collaborative evolution and coupling of major biological events, and has achieved rich phased results. The expert group suggests further strengthening collaborative integration and achievement refinement among various topics, focusing on key scientific objectives, and promoting the formation of more landmark achievements with international influence. After review by the expert group, the mid-term inspection of the project was rated as excellent. The convening of this mid-term self-examination meeting has laid a solid foundation for the smooth progress of the project and is of great significance in promoting interdisciplinary integration. The project team stated that they will further improve the research plan and summary materials based on expert opinions, continue to promote research on the environmental causes and ecological reconstruction of the Cambrian Explosion, and strive to make more and greater breakthroughs in the forefront of Earth system science.