On the afternoon of April 14, the "Child's Heart Builds Defense Line, Charm Protects National Frontiers" National Border Biosecurity into Campus activity was successfully held at Hunan Normal University Affiliated Binjiang School. The event was jointly organized by the Biological Specimen Museum of the College of Life Sciences at Central South University, the Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Animal Models of Major Human Diseases, Changsha Huanghua Airport Customs, and Hunan Normal University Affiliated Binjiang School. The activity brought a vivid and profound science popularization lesson on national border biosecurity and ecological protection to the first-grade primary school students. Attendees included He Kuan, Member of the Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Changsha Science and Technology Association; Lin Yun, Director of the Changsha Science Popularization Department; Yang Wen, Senior Principal Officer of the Changsha Science Popularization Department; relevant officials from Changsha Huanghua Airport Customs; and school leadership from Hunan Normal University Affiliated Binjiang School attended and guided the event. The science popularization base team of the Biological Specimen Museum of the College of Life Sciences of Central South University participated in the activity.

Firstly, the leadership of Hunan Normal University Affiliated Binjiang School expressed their sincere gratitude to the Changsha Science and Technology Association, the Changsha Huanghua Airport Customs, and the science popularization team from the College of Life Sciences at Central South University for their presence. Subsequently, the relevant official from the airport customs delivered the opening speech.

During the science popularization session, the airport customs science popularization instructor took the lead in presenting "A Micro-Class on Biosecurity at the Customs Gate".

Huang Hao, Director of the Biological Specimen Museum at Central South University and Associate Research Fellow, delivered a vivid presentation titled "The Smiling Angel of the Yangtze River: The Yangtze Finless Porpoise." Using precious specimen exhibits, he explained to the children the current survival status, conservation significance, and threats faced by the Yangtze finless porpoise.

Subsequently, the iGEM team from the College of Life Sciences introduced the fundamental concepts of synthetic biology and its innovative applications in ecological conservation to the children.

The climax of the event occurred during the interactive session simulating the work of customs inspection dogs. The instructor led the well-trained customs inspection dogs in a live simulation of the process of detecting prohibited items, and invited student representatives to assume the role of "young customs officers" to experience the inspection procedures firsthand.

During this event, the college fully utilized its strengths in academic research and science popularization, demonstrating its commitment to serving society and nurturing the new generation.

Moving forward, the college will further strengthen collaborative partnerships with customs authorities, the Science and Technology Association, and primary and secondary schools, innovate science communication approaches, enrich educational content, and contribute more expertise and efforts from Central South University to enhance public scientific literacy and strengthening the national biological security barrier.

Written by: Yang Xiaohui, Hu Jinming, Yan Anjie  

First review: Huang Hao  

Second review: Hu Yiqiao  

Final review: Chen Chao