During the week of October 30th, Penn State and SSHCZO hosted 15 scientists from the China Geological Survey, with interests ranging from saltwater intrusion and urban geology to karst and hydrogeology.  Within the early stages of China’s Critical Zone Observatory development, the delegation was interested in the pathways US scientists develop scientific questions to be answered in the observatory setting, from instrumentation to data collection, model development, and interpretation.  The group met with various investigators to learn field/lab processes and equipment necessary to study the critical zone.  In the field, they learned regional geology; how we monitor and measure fluxes from the tree canopy to groundwater; and the challenges and benefits of streaming data back to campus.  Following this week with Shale Hills CZO, the delegation travels to Boulder CZO to learn about front-range to plains research.