From May 29 to June 2, 2024, Kuang Yaming Honors School implemented its “Excellent Talent Cultivation Honor Program.” Led by Zhou Yuan, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Kuang Yaming Honors School, Zou Dawei, Assistant to the Dean, and Si Linmin, Youth League Secretary of the Kuang Yaming Honors School, a group of 25 student Party and Youth League members visited Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). The delegation carried out innovative practice activities and engaged in in-depth exchanges with alumni teaching or studying at these universities.
On May 30, the delegation arrived at HKBU and held a discussion with faculty and students from the Department of Physics at HKBU. The meeting was chaired by Tang Qianyuan, an alumnus of Kuang Yaming Honors School (class of 2007) and now a professor of the Department of Physics at HKBU. Department Director Zhou Changsong, along with Professors Wang Shuren, Tian Liang, Zeng Xiangze, and Ma Guancong, participated in the event. Tang Qianyuan extended a warm welcome to the delegation, sharing his academic journey and research insights. Wang Shuren, Tian Liang, Zeng Xiangze, Ma Guancong and others introduced their latest research achievements in areas such as stochastic states of charged particles, advanced materials, and the application of biophysics in traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis and treatment. Zhou Changsong provided an overview of the Department of Physics at HKBU, including its historical development, research areas, and future prospects. Zou Dawei expressed gratitude on behalf of Kuang Yaming Honors School and highlighted the school’s achievements in talent cultivation. Both sides engaged in in-depth discussions on topics of mutual interest, such as frontier research in physics. After the meeting, the delegation visited the physics laboratories at HKBU.
On May 31, the group visited CUHK, where they were received by Lu Xinhui, a professor in the Department of Physics and an alumna of Kuang Yaming Honors School (class of 2000). She provided a comprehensive introduction to the Department of Physics and guided the group through its laboratories, where they interacted with professors and graduate students conducting research.
Besides, the delegation also visited the Department of Chemistry and Wu Yee Sun College, which has a long-standing exchange relationship with Kuang Yaming Honors School. Professor Lü Hairong from the Department of Chemistry introduced the department’s education philosophy, faculty strength, and research progress, with an in-depth discussion on the latest developments in boron chemistry. At Wu Yee Sun College, Vice Dean, Professor Pan Mingji welcomed the delegation, sharing the university’s unique history of “colleges first, then universities,” the college’s inclusive culture, and its diverse practical programs, which provided a platform for students to enhance their comprehensive abilities. He also expressed admiration for Kuang Yaming, the former president of Nanjing University, and warmly welcomed the visiting students. Zhou Yuan, on behalf of Kuang Yaming Honors School, expressed appreciation for the college’s hospitality, emphasizing the long-standing friendship between the school and the college. She hoped to deepen the cooperation mechanism through mutual visits between teachers and students, enhance dialogue and exchanges in the improvement of students’ humanistic quality, the cultivation of innovation potential and the construction of college culture, so as to bring the friendship between the school and the college to a new level. Student volunteers from Wu Yee Sun College then led the delegation on a tour of the college’s facilities, including the fitness center, observatory, music rooms, and library, where they experienced the college’s cosy atmosphere.
On June 1, the delegation visited HKUST. All Nanjing University alumni currently working at the university enthusiastically welcomed the delegation and had a discussion with them. Organized and invited by Professor Yu Jianzhen from the Department of Chemistry and Professor Wu Zhenguo from the Division of Life Science, Nanjing University alumni including Professor Zhou Xiaofang (Head of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering), Professor Li Guijun from the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, Professor Quan Yangjian from the Department of Chemistry, Professor Zhang Qiong from the Department of Ocean Science, and graduate student Ma Xiangyu from the Department of Mathematics delivered speeches in turn, introducing their respective research areas, and the research directions and situation of each department at HKUST. The alumni said that the strong foundation laid by Nanjing has given them unlimited possibilities to do scientific research and even engage in interdisciplinary research. They hoped that the outstanding students of Kuang Yaming Honors School can accumulate more and try more, choose the direction of interest for further study, and excavate their scientific research potential. As a “Big Brother” of NJU alumni working at HKUST, Zhou Xiaofang affectionately recalled his own history of being born in NJU, growing up in NJU, studying at NJU, and making achievements in NJU, and expressed his sincere hope for the students to make great achievements in their future studies and win glory for NJU worldwide.
Zhou Yuan, representing Kuang Yaming Honors School, expressed heartfelt gratitude for the alumni’s hospitality and presented them with mementos bearing elements of Nanjing University and the school. She emphasized that Nanjing University serves as a shared symbol and connection for alumni worldwide. She introduced to the alumni the efforts and achievements made by teachers and students in the endeavor to build the “First Nanjing University” and reaffirmed the commitment to cultivating top-tier innovative talent, continuing the legacy of scientific spirit and patriotic ambition among Nanjing University students.
She said that the school would definitely make more in-depth exploration and attempts in the cultivation of top-tier innovative talent, and lead the young students to continuously inherit and continue Nanjing University people’s scientific spirit and ambition of serving the country, and contribute the wisdom of Nanjing University towards the major needs of the country and the frontiers of scientific research.
After the discussion, the alumni hosted a banquet for the delegation. During walks along the campus paths and while enjoying delicacies, the students experienced the campus environment of HKUST near the mountains and the sea. In the afternoon, professors guided students from different majors to study and exchange in laboratories of various disciplines such as physics, chemistry, and environmental science. A highlight of the visit was a tour of the cryo-electron microscopy laboratory led by Professor Wu Zhenguo, where students explored cutting-edge experimental equipment in this field.
This visit was part of the innovation and practice initiative under the “Excellent Talent Cultivation Honor Program” at Kuang Yaming Honors School. It aimed to broaden students’ horizons, foster cultural exchange, and inspire scientific interest. At the same time, it also took the opportunity to enhance the understanding of teachers, students and alumni of Hong Kong universities about the development of Nanjing University and Kuang Yaming Honors school, and promote the reputation.
