Xinjiang Normal University Biological Specimen Museum

Xinjiang Normal University Biological Specimen Museum

The specimen museum of the School of Life Sciences at Xinjiang Normal University has a history of over 30 years. It houses more than 50,000 specimens of local flora and fauna characteristic of arid regions and is a cooperative partner of the National Digital Specimen Library for Animals and Plants. The collection includes dried specimens of higher plants from various natural regions, such as snow lotus, saxaul, cistanche, and Xinjiang ferula. It also features prized exhibits including the first-class nationally protected animals such as wild yak, Siberian ibex, and four-toed tortoise, as well as second-class protected species like Ebi Lake red deer, argali, and Apollo butterfly, presented as posed or skeletal specimens.

The museum covers an area of 800 square meters and is divided into exhibition rooms for plants, insects, fish, amphibians and reptiles, birds, mammals, minerals, and the history of science and technology. A dedicated live-breeding research room has been set up for the Xinjiang salamander, a “living fossil” and Class I protected animal in the autonomous region. Specimens serve as vital resources in biological scientific research, providing the only inspectable and studyable evidence for the description of new species and new distribution areas. In teaching and public science education, lifelike specimens are also the best teaching aids. The biological specimen room is an important component of university biology laboratories and a key base for education and research. In recent years, we have made multiple adjustments to the layout of the specimen museum. Except for highly specialized plant specimens stored in the specimen repository, all other specimens that reflect the characteristics of Xinjiang’s arid and desert environment, as well as all animal specimens and human anatomy teaching models, are displayed as open exhibits to facilitate student observation when relevant topics are covered in class. To maximize its functionality, we have organized the specimens into permanent exhibitions, arranged by biological evolutionary sequence and categorized by room. We have added 90 explanatory text signs and science education display panels related to the content, along with 115 display cabinets. An exhibition visiting route has been established, and space for group activities has been designated, transforming the original specimen museum from a single-function storage facility into a multifunctional venue integrating teaching, science education, and research. In the arrangement of the exhibits, we strive to highlight the essence of education and showcase humanistic spirit, attempting an effective integration of natural and human sciences. The newly added Plant and Culture display cabinet collects ethnically distinctive plant-related exhibits, illustrating the relationships between plants and ethnic crafts such as papermaking and weaving, as well as folk customs. This helps students understand that plants are not only closely related to our material lives but also deeply influence traditional Chinese historical culture and customs. These insights are of great significance for young people to correctly understand the developmental history of Xinjiang. Children have written in the guestbook: “Seeing these makes me realize that it is the richness of nature that brings about the prosperity of humanity. I will definitely join your ranks and embrace science.” We have also collected teaching instruments and office supplies used in laboratories before the 1980s, as well as old household appliances used by our parents’ generation, and set up a History of Science exhibition room. This showcases the idea that science changes life and innovation creates the future. This has resonated with parents and sparked the interest of children, helping young people learn about the history of technological development and experience the changes that scientific and technological progress have brought to our lives.

In accordance with the requirements of the "Implementation Measures for Scientific Research Institutions and Universities to Open to the Public for Science Popularization Activities" issued by the Autonomous Region Science and Technology Association, some experimental spaces of our autonomous region-level and university-level key laboratories are also located on the same floor as the specimen museum and are open to the public. This allows young people to observe scientific research processes and discuss technological issues, thereby enhancing their interest in and understanding of science and technology. The specimen museum of the School of Life Sciences at Xinjiang Normal University, while ensuring the needs of normal experimental teaching, actively opens to society and has established a youth science education base. It leverages the resource and talent advantages of higher normal education institutions to contribute to the educational and science popularization efforts in minority regions. Through practice, it has explored a new path for the development of university laboratory facilities—sharing specimen rooms and teaching resources with society.