China Central Television (CCTV)'s news channel broadcast a special program titled "Checking in on University Museums: Huazhong Agricultural University" on August 16, providing a glimpse into the rich exhibits and profound cultural heritage of the Museum of Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU), highlighting its unique presence in natural and agricultural sciences.

A screenshot of the TV program [Photo/news.hzau.edu.cn]

The Museum of HZAU boasts around 300,000 precious specimens over a wide range of fields, from forestry and insects to marine life, and from plants to soil minerals. These specimens, collected, manufactured and preserved by faculty and students over decades, serve as historical witnesses and a testament to the spirit of scientific research.

During the program, CCTV reporter Gao Chenyuan explored some of the museum's exhibits, such as the specimens of Chinese sturgeon and Hubei White Pig.

The Chinese sturgeon, a flagship species of the Yangtze River, is known as the "panda of the water" and has a history of over 100 million years. However, due to environmental changes and human activities, this rare species is facing a critically endangered status.

A screenshot of the TV program on the Chinese sturgeon [Photo/news.hzau.edu.cn]

Li Dapeng, a professor at the School of Fisheries of HZAU, who has studied the Chinese sturgeon for ten years, explained the gentle yet resilient species to the audience.

He also shared measures to protect the animal, such as improving the Yangtze River's ecological environment and the species' artificial propagation and release.

The exhibition of the Hubei White Pig specimen highlights the remarkable contributions of Xiong Yuanzhu, a late professor at HZAU and China's first academician in pig breeding. Xiong's rigorous research and practice led to the development of China's first lean meat-type pig, greatly enhancing pork quality and economic value.

The Museum of HZAU also fulfills its social service role by enhancing public awareness of nature and agriculture. Open to the public free of charge, it is attracting a great number of visitors, especially during summer vacations. It also regularly hosts various science popularization activities and takes specimens to primary and secondary schools and communities where it hosts lectures to make scientific knowledge more accessible and public enthusiasm for scientific research more developed.