 Currently, Yunnan University is one of the "Project 211" universities in China authorized by the central government to be specially developed.Yunnan University has also been included on the list of the key national universities for the "China Western Development" program.YNU is gained a worldwide reputation through the discovery and research of the Maotianshan Shales (especially the Chengjiang biota) in early Cambrian leader by professor , who was rewarded the in 2003.