The 2025 Hubei Youth University Science Camp's Huazhong Agricultural University division opened on July 22, welcoming 30 high school students and three teachers from four top Wuhan schools for a three-day journey of scientific exploration.
Held under the theme "Science Dream, Youth Dream, and Chinese Dream", the program blends campus culture with academics. Students visited key national laboratories, engaged in scientist-led lectures, conducted plant science projects, and took part in interactive discussions. Activities also included campus tours and peer-led sharing sessions to inspire critical thinking and scientific curiosity.
At the opening ceremony, Professor Wang Li from HZAU's College of Life Science and Technology warmly welcomed the participants, emphasizing the camp's role in nurturing future innovators and supporting China's strategic goals in science and technology. "We hope you'll seize this opportunity to explore the frontiers of science, meet like-minded peers, and develop a deeper understanding of research and discovery," she said.
On the first day, campers toured two national-level research labs, learning about cutting-edge equipment and breakthroughs in crop genetics and agricultural microbiology. Scientists Zhang Shaoran and Zhang Qinghua introduced their work and shared the spirit of scientific excellence. Student mentor Li Muyang offered advice on university life and academic planning.
The program is co-hosted by the Hubei Association for Science and Technology and the provincial education department.

Zhang Shaoran guides campers through the National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, affiliated to HZAU. [Photo/news.hzau.edu.cn]