Core Viewpoint - International scientific cooperation is essential for technological development, and China is a strong advocate and active practitioner of such cooperation, emphasizing mutual respect and benefit to enhance global scientific progress [1] Group 1: Contributions of Zhang Yiman - Zhang Yiman, a paleontologist and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, proposed a groundbreaking theory that "lobed-finned fish originated in Yunnan, China," challenging the Eurocentric view of vertebrate evolution [1][7] - Her early research in the 1950s involved arduous fieldwork, collecting crucial fossil specimens that laid the foundation for Chinese paleontology [2] - In the 1980s, she challenged the prevailing theory that "lobed-finned fish originated in Europe" by presenting significant fossil evidence from Yunnan, which began to shift the scientific consensus [4][5] Group 2: Impact on Global Paleontology - Zhang's meticulous research on the "Yang's fish" fossil led to the conclusion that it lacked the anatomical features necessary for terrestrial life, thus reshaping the understanding of vertebrate evolution [5][7] - By 1995, her findings were widely accepted in the paleontological community, establishing Yunnan as the center of origin for lobed-finned fish, which was a significant milestone in the field [7] - Her achievements have elevated China's status in global paleontology, as evidenced by her receiving prestigious awards, including the "Romero-Simpson Lifetime Achievement Award" and the "World Outstanding Woman Scientist Award" [9]