From July 5 to 7, the 1st National Academic Symposium for Graduate Students in Atmospheric Sciences took place on the Chengguan Campus of Lanzhou University. Guided by the Chinese Meteorological Society, the symposium was co organized by the Graduate School (Party Committee Graduate Work Department) and the College of Atmospheric Sciences of Lanzhou University. Academicians Zhang Renhe and Huang Jianping from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, as well as Academicians Feng Qi and Zhang Qiang from the Chinese Academy of Engineering, were invited to attend and deliver keynote reports. Yang Xingguo, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Director of Gansu Meteorological Bureau; Liu Xiang, Vice President of Lanzhou University; and Liu Wenquan, Committee Member of the Party Committee and Level 4 Staff Member of the Secretariat of the Chinese Meteorological Society, attended and addressed the opening ceremony. More than 200 graduate students, experts and scholars from 28 peer universities and research institutes including Peking University, Nanjing University, Sun Yat sen University and Fudan University participated in the conference.
Photos: Opening ceremony of the symposium
At the opening ceremony, Liu Xiang reviewed the over 60 year development of atmospheric sciences at Lanzhou University rooted in Northwest China. He encouraged graduate students to pursue knowledge with modesty and down to earth practice, and strive to grow into high level interdisciplinary and innovative talents. He hoped all participating parties would further deepen collaborative talent training mechanisms, exchange experience in talent cultivation, jointly tackle key problems in scientific and technological innovation, and coordinate efforts in research achievement transformation, so as to collectively elevate China’s atmospheric science talent training, scientific technological innovation and achievement translation to new heights.
Liu Wenquan stated that the development of meteorological undertakings bears on national economy and people’s livelihood, and the modernization of meteorological science and technology capabilities is essential for building a powerful meteorological nation. He urged young scholars to aim high and integrate personal aspirations into national demands, dare to blaze new trails and break disciplinary boundaries to produce original outputs, strengthen collaboration, and improve practical competence and science popularization capacity. He also previewed a series of upcoming youth oriented events hosted by the society to continuously support the growth of young talents.
Yang Xingguo remarked that young scholars are in their prime for scientific research. They are both successors to disciplinary development and pioneers of future breakthroughs. They should consciously “write their papers on the land of the motherland”, and translate research outputs into practical support for improving people’s wellbeing and social development. They should bravely push academic frontiers and strive to produce high level landmark research outcomes, take root in Northwest China, and resolve key meteorological technical challenges with a broad vision focused on the country’s core priorities.
Zhou Botao, Dean of the School of Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, delivered a message on behalf of peer universities.
Photos: Academicians stamping the scroll, graduate student representatives reading the initiative, and the flag awarding ceremony
The National Academic Initiative for Graduate Students in Atmospheric Sciences was released at the opening ceremony, calling on young scholars to uphold academic integrity and make unremitting efforts toward building a powerful meteorological nation and improving public wellbeing. Academicians Zhang Renhe, Huang Jianping, Feng Qi and Zhang Qiang jointly stamped the ceremonial scroll to inaugurate the conference. On behalf of the Chinese Meteorological Society, Liu Wenquan presented a conference flag to Lanzhou University.
Beyond offering a showcase for participating graduate students, the symposium built a high level platform for engaging with cutting edge academia and industrial progress. Four academicians and five distinguished experts were invited to give informative keynote presentations covering multiple core sub fields of atmospheric sciences. The keynote sessions drew full houses with repeated rounds of applause. In addition, a special career development roundtable salon entitled Navigating the Graduate Journey was held for in depth discussions on talent demand trends in meteorology, career planning strategies and employment policy orientations.
Photos: Academicians delivering keynote speeches
During the symposium, participants gave over 110 oral presentations and displayed more than 80 posters on themes including climate change adaptation, applied meteorology, weather modification, and emerging applications of artificial intelligence in atmospheric sciences. After two days of intensive academic exchange, the review panel selected award winners: 8 First Prizes, 12 Second Prizes, 16 Third Prizes and 20 Honorable Mentions for oral presentations; 8 Best Poster Awards and 14 Excellent Poster Awards. At the closing ceremony, attending experts presented certificates to award recipients.
Photos: Parallel session oral presentations and poster exhibitions
Photos: Closing Ceremony and Award Ceremony
Hosting this national academic symposium for atmospheric science graduate students constitutes an important measure for Lanzhou University to implement the Outline for High Quality Meteorological Development (2022 2035) and advance reforms of graduate student training models. As the initiator of this conference, the College of Atmospheric Sciences has long regarded graduate education as the foundation of disciplinary construction. It integrates value shaping, knowledge imparting and competence cultivation, and actively explores new pathways for coordinated research oriented and ideological political education. Moving forward, the college will continue to embed ideological political education throughout the whole graduate training process, explore a long term operating mechanism for a national academic community of atmospheric science graduate students, and guide graduate students to build solid capabilities while serving national disaster prevention and mitigation missions, contributing Lanzhou University’s strength to building a powerful meteorological nation.
Written by: Li Peibei
Edited by: Zhu Meiqi
