The 6^th International Open Scientific Conference on Study of Human Factors in Global Environmental Change (IOSCSHFGEC) was held in Bonn University, Germany, this year from October 9 to 13. Held once every two years, the conference aims to sum up the achievement and existent problems in studying human factors in global environmental change internationally, and propose implementations of International Human Development Plan (IHDP)’s core research programs, organizations and internet capacity construction in the next phase. The theme this time is “Global Environmental Change, Globalization and International Security: New Challenges in the 21st Century.”

Over 900 scholars, administrative staff, strategic makers, and educational faculty from more than 40 countries participated in the conference. On the opening ceremony, Mr Liu Yanhua, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology, PRC, was invited to talk about “Study of Human Factors in global environmental change in China.” 

Researchers from the group of land-use/-cover change on the Tibetan Plateau and its impact on the environment Professors Zhang Yili, Zhang Xueqin and Liu Guifeng also attended the conference. Professors Zhang Xueqin and Zhang Yili gave presentations respectively on “Regional Response to Global Changes over the Tibetan Plateau”, and “Land Cover Change in the Upper Dadu River Watershed, Eastern Tibetan Plateau” during the tributary meeting of “Land-use/-cover and Ecological Security in the Asian Region.” For the convenience of academic communication, Prof Zhang Yili also made some boards publicizing his study of “Land-use and Land-cover Change in Tibetan Plateau in the Last Two Decades,” together with Prof Liu Guifeng, whose boards were about the “Impacts of Climate Jump During Middle Holocene on Pre-history Culture in Eastern Qinghai Province, China.” Some participants showed great interest in the research on the Tibetan Plateau, envisaging further international communications and collaborations.