Research fields are mainly invertebrate palaeontology, palaeobotany and palynology, micripalaeontology, and stratigraphy, which are being studied by the 223 researchers and graduate students (October, 2005). Since its foundation 50 years ago, the institute has published more than 6,200 research papers in national and international scientific journals, 300 volumes of scientific monographs in various fields. 200 scientific research projects have received awards from the state, Chinese Academy of Sciences, province and ministry level-government. Of them the "Project of the Chengjiang Biota and Cambrian Explosion" won the Frist class of National Natural Science Award from Ministry of Science and Technology in 2003.