In order to make better use of the excellent performance of the equipment and to meet the requirements of scientific research, Beijing Ecotek Technology Company Limited invited Dr. Shannon Mitchell, an application expert from METER (formerly Decagon) Company, to visit FIRI on May 7, 2018, and gave a lecture at the Key Laboratory of Crop Water Requirement and Regulation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

Dr. Shannon Mitchell first reported on the research methods and effects of applying METER’s microclimate weather station technology to monitor environmental changes in Montana and sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, Dr. Shannon Mitchell also introduced the influencing factors, measurement indicators and research methods of soil moisture in combination based on his own research. After the report, Dr. Shannon Mitchell demonstrated the operation methods of equipment and software for farmland environmental monitoring, soil particle size analysis, soil water temperature measurement and so on. He also answered related questions raised by researchers.

Through the academic activity, young researchers and graduate students in the laboratory had an in-depth understanding of the use and maintenance methods of advanced instruments and equipment, and broaden the ideas for field research.