Nanjing and Hong Kong Universities Launch 2024 Summer Exchange on Earth System Science
On the morning of July 5, the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Practice Exchange Program for Teachers and Students of Nanjing and Hong Kong Universities on Earth System Science and Sustainable Development was held in Zhu Gongshan Building, Xianlin Campus of Nanjing University. Lu Xiancai, member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee, Vice President, and Dean of the School of Earth Sciences and Engineering of Nanjing University, relevant persons in charge of the Internationalization Office (Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office) and the School of Earth Sciences and Engineering of Nanjing University, representatives of teachers and students from Lingnan University of Hong Kong and Nanjing University, and high school students from Changzhou No. 1 Middle School and Shenyang Railway Experimental Middle School attended the meeting. The meeting was chaired by Shi Yukun , Assistant Dean of the School of Earth Sciences of our university .
In his speech, Lu Xiancai warmly welcomed the teachers and students of Lingnan University in Hong Kong and the two middle school students, and fully affirmed the importance and significance of this cooperative exchange program. He introduced the historical and cultural characteristics of Nanjing and Nanjing University, and emphasized the consistency of the open and inclusive core of Nanjing and Hong Kong. Based on the content of the exchange program, President Lu emphasized the importance of the hydrosphere and atmosphere in studying the material cycle and climate change in the Earth’s critical zones. He expressed the hope that the exchanges and visits between the universities in Nanjing and Hong Kong will continue to be enhanced, and wished the event a smooth and successful event.
Cai Dandan, deputy director of the International Affairs Office of Nanjing University, delivered a speech on behalf of the Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Office of the university. She said that on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the 27th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland, she warmly welcomes teachers and students from Lingnan University in Hong Kong to come to the mainland of the motherland and to Nanjing University for exchanges. She emphasized that it is necessary to deepen the exchanges and interactions between universities in Nanjing and Hong Kong, broaden students’ horizons through activities, and promote students’ common growth in professional learning, scientific research and cultural spirit.
Zhang Xia, the person in charge of this exchange program and associate professor of the School of Earth Sciences and Engineering at Nanjing University, introduced the overall situation of the exchange program. With the current problems and challenges such as climate warming and natural disasters, Zhang Xia highlighted the importance of thinking about these problems from the perspective of interdisciplinary and sustainable development with the thinking of Earth system science, and emphasized the holistic view of combining natural sciences with humanities, and the important “scientific view, overall view, and problem view” in scientific research, in order to cultivate talents with a global vision of interdisciplinary studies. She also introduced in detail the planning arrangements for the later stage of the course, including the key points of indoor learning and field practice.
Finally, Shi Yukun once again emphasized the importance of combining earth sciences, humanities and social sciences, expressed his expectation for the active performance of Lingnan University students, and exchanged gifts with Geng Hongyan, the leader of the Lingnan University team in Hong Kong.