The 3rd Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) National Academy of Sciences summer school for young scientists was held during July 16-August 3, 2012, sponsored by CAS Bureau of International cooperation and co-sponsored by ITP. Over 22 young scientists from the five member countries within SCO attended this young scientists training program, in addition to some young scholars from Nepal and Myanmar.

During the 21-day training program, participants were introduced to the pre-treatment technique for rocks, soil, and biological samples. They were also taught the analysis skills of rare earth and trace elements, dating methods with Ar-Ar and U-Pb, and measurement of stable and radioactive isotopes. ITP geophysicists also delivered courses to acquaint them with the principles in sites selection for GPS and broad-band seismographic equipment allocations, and relevant data processing skills. Experienced scientists in the aforementioned subjects from ITP and China Geological University were invited to host the training courses.

Besides those classroom seminars and hand-on lab experiences, participating young scientists also went on a 3-day field expedition to Qin Huang Dao, Hebei Province. The training program concluded on August 3, with all participants in the program receiving a graduation certificate.