Bringing nature to life

Since 2009, the plant specimen information is fully digitized in a database with images, in response to the Ministry of Education's initiative on digital management of the university specimen collections in 2006.

While the museum is not open to the public yet, it supports scientists who need to identify specific plants and animals.

Xie Shixiang, a Fudan alumnus and a bird-watcher, says he often visits the museum to identify bird specimens.

"In the wild we usually watch birds from a distance," says Xie, "but here, the observation can be detailed without any time limit. It is like I have a lifelong free ticket to a nature theater."

Speaking about the displays, Tang says that even though many animals and plants can be seen only in books or on the internet, especially if they are extinct, this is not the case with the museum as its specimens are intact.

"This is no longer an issue. Even a snake's foot that is not completely degraded can be seen through its skeleton, which is very valuable scientific data," says Tang.

Separately, Wu Yanhua, the deputy director of the national experimental teaching demonstration center of biological sciences at the university, says the museum is now working on the construction of a digital specimen library and teaching videos.

"It will be open to the public when everything is ready," says Wu.