"While photography captures moments, scientific illustration preserves the eternity of species," says Hu Dongmei, a senior experimentalist at Beijing Forestry University's College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology. Her intricate drawings, which revealing leaf veins like silk webs, petal textures in microscopic detail, and cross-sectional seed structures, are more than just art; they are testaments to nature's precision and a scientist's reverence for biodiversity.

Bringing scientific art into the classroom

Hu's journey began with childhood sketching inspired by her mother, evolving into a professional craft under the mentorship of dendrologist Professor Ren Xianwei. To capture the beauty of flowers, she coordinated with the School of Landscape Architecture to airlift blooming specimens from Yunnan, working through nights to complete illustrations before the bloom faded; for precious moment of blooming, she documented its fleeting flowering phase through four consecutive days of observational sketching.

Now, as a pioneer in botanical illustration education, she has transformed her passion into a groundbreaking course: Biological Drawing Techniques, China's first university-level program integrating scientific illustration into professional scientific training.

Students master skills from steady ink lines to anatomical accuracy through her "theory + practice" approach, and the results speak volumes: student works now grace their graduation projects, exhibitions, and even 2023 BFU admission letter bookmarks. In 2024, student teams from BFU Senol ecology club documented 100+ plant species through illustrated field journals during summer expeditions, contributing raw data for global biodiversity research.

From scientific precision to public passion

Hu's art thrives at the intersection of rigor and beauty. Her representative painting Parsons' Pink China showcasing petal layers and exact stamen counts was displayed at World Rose Expo and other exhibitions, exemplifying how scientific accuracy elevates artistic impact.

Embracing science communication as her calling, she teaches the "art of scientific precision" at bookstores, community centers, and international book fairs offline. Online, she explains botanical illustration techniques through virtual classes, guiding students to "listen to nature through their brushes". Between these efforts, she writes practical guides to democratize this niche skill.

"Botanical art isn't just about accuracy, it's about awakening hearts to nature's quiet wonders," she says.

Ink seeds on paper field: natural narrator

Hu plans to compile years of plant portraits for the popularization and inheritance of botanical illustration, believing that "botanical illustration can awaken public stewardship for nature." From lab benches to lecture halls, her brushstrokes weave scientific truth with storytelling, serving as a bridge between academia and society.

As she puts it, "These illustrations don't just depict forms; they narrate life's silent epics." In Beijing's fertile ground for science communication, Hu Dongmei sows seeds of wonder, one meticulous line at a time.

Find video in 我在北京做科普 | 从显微镜到硫酸纸，她用墨线勾勒植物的故事

From GMW.cn
Translated and edited by Song He
Reviewed by Yu Yangyang