In response to the university’s strategic initiatives and to scientifically plan the development of the school, the School of Materials Science and Engineering (hereinafter referred to as "the School") held the 2025 Winter Strategic Seminar at the Academic Exchange Center of the New Yanyuan Campus of Peking University from January 10 to 11, 2025.Zhang Jin, a memberof the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Vice President of Peking University, attended the conference. The meeting also invitedvisitingprofessors of Peking University, dual-appointed professors, and representatives fromBeijingOriental Yuhong Waterproof Technology Co., Ltd. to participate. All faculty and staff of the School (including the Shenzhen and Zhengzhou campuses) attended theseminar, which was presided over by Li Ming, Secretary of the Party Committee of theSchool.
The Seminar
Zhang Jinacknowledgedthe achievements of the School andput forwardnew requirements for its development. He emphasized that the School should leadthe wayin Peking University's new engineering initiatives, continuously spearheading advancements in this field while benchmarking against world-class standards to enhance its global academic influence. He also stressed the importance of aligning with major national strategies, further clarifying the goals and positioning of the discipline, and deeply exploring pathways for the integration of industry, academia, and research. In addition, he urged the School to establish a sustainable development mechanism for transforming scientific and technological achievements into practical applications, ensuring that research outcomes are effectivelyrealized.Moreover, Zhang Jin expressed his hope for fostering a positive and solution-oriented academic culture within the School—one that resonates with the times and drives innovation.Finally, he encouraged the continuedgeneration of new momentum for the high-quality development of both the School and Peking University’s materials science discipline.
Zhang Jin delivering his speech
To accelerate the university’s “Double First-Class” initiative andbuilda high-caliber faculty team, the School has officially appointed Professor Hou Yanglong, Dean of the School of MaterialsScienceat Sun Yat-sen University, as well as researchers Dai Shenglong, Jiao Jian, Li Fuping, Yan Yue, and Zhang Daijun from AECC Beijing Institute of Aeronautical Materials asvisitingprofessors at Peking University.During the appointment ceremony, Zou Ruqiang presented the letters of appointment to thevisitingprofessor representatives.
Zou Ruqiang presented the letters of appointment to the visiting professor representatives.
Zou Ruqiang also delivered a comprehensive report on the overall work of the School and outlined the next steps. He encouraged faculty and staff to align closely with national strategies and the university’s development goals, emphasizing systematic planning to contribute to the establishment of a world-class materials science discipline with Chinese characteristics.Zhang Zuotai, Executive Vice President of the Peking University Zhengzhou Advanced Research Institute of New Materials, presented aworkreport on the institute. Similarly, Xiao Yinguo, Vice Dean of the School of Advanced Materials at the Shenzhen Graduate School, delivered a report on the progress of their institution.
Zou Ruqiang, Zhang Zuotai, and Xiao Yinguo delivering reports
Subsequently, the attendees focused on the development plan of the School and engaged in group discussions. Participants actively shared their insights andprovideda series of constructive suggestions for the School’s futuredevelopment.After the discussions, therelevantschool leaders delivered speeches on key topics such as talent cultivation, research collaboration, and postdoctoral programs.
Group discussions
The School leaders delivering speeches
The School heldtheinauguralFacultyCongress, with all faculty members of the School participating. The meeting was presided over by Guo Shaojun, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, who also presented the School’s administrative and financial work report.Following this, the first Executive Committee election of the School Faculty Congress took place. Guo Shaojun, Zhan Xiaowei, Liu Lei, Gao Xin, Lü Shixian, Pang Quanquan, Zhang Lanying, Zhang Qing, and Zhao Xiaoxu were elected as members of the first Executive Committee.The meeting emphasized that the faculty congress serves as a key mechanism for ensuring faculty participation in the democratic management and supervision of the university. The faculty members were encouraged to actively submit proposals and contribute theirinsightsto the continued progress and prosperity of both the School and the university.
The inaugural Faculty Congress
After that, the preparatory meeting for the establishment of the Peking University Alumni Association Materials Science Branch was held, bringing together alumni representatives fromall over the world. The meeting was chaired by Zhang Jing, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, who also delivered a report on alumni affairs.The attendees engaged in in-depth discussions on the organizational structure of the alumni branch, its management regulations, and future event planning. During the meeting, Zou Ruqiang and Li Ming had lively discussions with alumni on personal development, the preparation of the alumni branch, and prospects for collaboration.Theattendingalumni expressed their gratitude for the education they received from their alma mater and the support of the alumni association. They also pledged to actively contribute to the development of the alumni branch, strengthen alumni connections, enhance collaboration, and support the growth of both the School and the university.
The preparatory meeting for the establishment of the Peking University Alumni Association Materials Science Branch
During the meeting, professors from various research institutes presented their progressreports, including Professor Cao Anyuan from the Advanced Carbon Materials Research Institute, Professor Zhan Xiaowei from the Optoelectronic Materials Research Institute, Professor Xia Dingguo from the New Energy Materials Research Institute, Professor Wu Shuilin from theLife and HealthMaterials Research Institute, Professor Yang Huai from the New Structural Materials Research Institute. Each professor provided an overview of their institute’s progress over the past year, highlighting key achievements and outlining future development plans.
Professors from different institutes delivering work reports
Following the reports,Song Jianrong, Deputy Technical Director of Oriental Yuhong and Director of the National Key Laboratory for Special Functional Waterproof Materials, delivered a report on thelaboratory construction plan. He introduced the laboratory’s objectives, key achievements, current development status, and future plans.
Song Jianrong delivering the work report
At the Special Seminar on Discipline Development, Zhou Huanping, Vice Dean of the School, delivered a report on discipline development. In her presentation, she summarized the progress made by the School in implementing Peking University’s 2024 “Year of Discipline Quality” strategy and providedan overview ofthe sixth round of discipline evaluation and the university’s 2025 “Year of Scientific and Technological Innovation” initiatives.She conducted an in-depth analysis of the new challenges facing the School’s development and shared her thoughts and insights on advancing the high-quality growth of Peking University’s materials science discipline.
Zhou Huanping delivering the work report
At the seminar, the School’s Vice Dean, Lei Ting, presented the report on the internationalization of teaching and training. Zhao Xiaoxu, the Director of the International Cooperation Office, gave a report on the School’s international cooperation and exchange efforts. Researchers Gao Xin, Luo Mingchuan, and Fu Xiaoyangprovided updateson the development of English-taughtcourses.Additionally, Professor Wang Qian shared his experience intraininginternational students.
Professors presenting their reports
Finally, Zou Ruqiang gave a concluding summary and pointed out the key focus for the next steps. He emphasized the importance of building a talent cultivation system based on a comprehensive and precise database,along withestablishing arobustgraduate tracking and feedback mechanism. He highlighted the need to actively coordinate teaching resources, tap into teachers’ developmental potential, and encourage teachers to dedicate themselves to serving the country's major needs, striving to produce high-level, high-quality research outcomes.Moreover, he stressed theimportance ofdeepeningcooperation with countries along the Belt and Roadto enhancethe international influence of Peking University’s materials science discipline. He urged all faculty members to anchor their goals and tasks, work diligently to create a new chapter in the school's high-quality development, and contribute to the furtherprogressof Peking University’s “Double First-Class” initiative.
Group photo
