Nanjing University’s School of Earth Sciences and Engineering Launches China-Australia Adelaide Basin Ecological Protection and Water Security Research Training Project
On May 20, 2024, when Nanjing University celebrated its 122nd anniversary, the first project launch ceremony of the “China-Australia Adelaide Basin Ecological Protection and Water Security Global Scientific Expedition and Research Training Project” was held at Nanjing University. This project is a new undergraduate global scientific expedition and research training project established by Nanjing University in 2024, and both the university and the college attach great importance to it. Professor Lu Xiancai, Vice President of Nanjing University and Dean of the School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, and leaders of the Party Committee’s Student Affairs Department, International Affairs Office, School of Earth Sciences and Engineering and other units attended the ceremony.
The project also attracted teachers and students from four sister universities, including Hohai University, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), North China University of Water Resources and Hydropower, and Ningxia University. Professor Shen Yang, Vice President of Hohai University, Professor Lu Chunhui, Dean of the School of Hydrology and Water Resources, and Professor Li Guofang, Dean of Dayu College, attended the launch ceremony. Professor Li Jianwei, Vice President of China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Professor Li Yanbin, Vice President of North China University of Water Resources and Hydropower, Professor Wang Zhongjing, Vice President of Ningxia University and Tsinghua University, and leaders of relevant departments, colleges and departments, team leaders and selected students attended the meeting online. The meeting was chaired by Professor Wang Dong, Director of the Comprehensive Office (Data Center) of the Undergraduate School of Nanjing University and the School of Earth Sciences.
Li Jianwei, Shen Yang, Wang Zhongjing and Li Yanbin delivered speeches in succession, introducing their respective schools’ initiatives and implementation results in talent cultivation, international cooperation and field practice. They spoke highly of Nanjing University’s concept of international talent cultivation, expressed their gratitude for the exchange and cooperation opportunities provided by Nanjing University, and wished the scientific expedition a complete success. They believed that through this scientific expedition, the students’ international vision, professional quality and innovative spirit would be effectively enhanced.
Professor Xie Yueqing, the leader of the expedition team, introduced the overall plan of this expedition and thanked leaders at all levels and sister colleges for their support to ensure the high-quality completion of this expedition. Hu Jiarong from Hohai University and Li Jiateng from Changshu Middle School in Jiangsu Province, who participated in this project through the “Leap Plan”, spoke as student representatives, saying that they would cherish the precious learning opportunities provided by this project, strictly demand themselves, work hard to learn relevant knowledge and actively explore, so that they can get all-round training and growth.
Lu Xiancai expressed his gratitude to all the sister colleges for their strong support for Nanjing University’s scientific expedition, and emphasized the significance of the launch of this global scientific expedition and scientific research training project. Internationalization is one of the important ways to improve the quality of talent training, and global scientific expedition is an important means to enhance students’ global vision and innovation ability. The School of Earth Sciences has one of the earliest international scientific expedition projects launched by Nanjing University, and global scientific expedition is also a concentrated embodiment of the concept of talent training of the School of Earth Sciences’ “three views” (general view, global view, and problem view). This project covers multiple disciplines such as hydrology, ecology, and environmental science. Through close cooperation with world-class universities and scientific research institutions, it reflects the characteristics of interdisciplinary integration and integration of science and education. He hopes that teachers and students will build a strong ideological defense line during the scientific expedition, ensure personal safety in the wild, and successfully complete the scientific expedition tasks with a learning attitude, full enthusiasm and firm belief.
At the end of the event, Lu Xiancai presented the flag to Professor Xie Yueqing, the leader of the scientific expedition team, on behalf of Nanjing University.