Zhijun YI, Ph.D., Visiting Scholar at the University of Guelph (Canada) and Columbia University (USA). Mr Zhijun worked for UNESCO as a Programme Specialist from 2010 to 2013, and for the Chinese Delegation to UNESCO as a Science Officer from 2015 to 2019. In addition to his expertise in science diplomacy and ecology, Mr Zhijun has accumulated rich experience in planning, management and policy analysis of intergovernmental science programmes. As one of the representatives of the Chinese government, Mr Zhijun participated in the Natural Sciences Commission of the 37^th, 40^th and 42^nd General Conferences of UNESCO. Currently. He is the Focal Point for the International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development (IYBSSD) and the Director of the China' Node for IYBSSD at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).