On January 11, the Winter Strategic Seminar of the School of Materials Science and Engineering was held in the lecture hall of the Materials Building at Peking University’s New Yanyuan Campus.

The seminar was attended by a distinguished group of guests, including: Zhang Jin, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Member of the Standing Committee of Peking University’s Party Committee, Executive Vice President of Peking University; Wang Zhonglin, Foreign Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Director of the Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Dai Shenglong, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Deputy Director of the Science and Technology Committee of Aero Engine Corporation China; Ma Ding, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Professor at the College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University; Zhang Ning, Chairman of Red Avenue New Materials Group Co., Ltd.; Hua Weiqi, Executive Vice President of Wanhua Chemical Group Co., Ltd.; Xiang Jinming, Controlling Vice Chairman, Yang Haocheng, President, and Song Jianrong, Deputy Director of the Technology Center, of Oriental Yuhong Waterproof Technology Co., Ltd.; Huang Youyuan, General Manager of BTR New Materials Group Co., Ltd.; Wang Shuhua, Chairman of Jinan Steel Group Co., Ltd.; Yan Xihui, Chairman of Tangshan Baochun Electronic Commerce Co., Ltd.; and Rong Yiqiang, Deputy General Manager of Kunshan Industrial Technology Research Institute.

Faculty and staff from the School of Materials Science and Engineering, the Shenzhen Graduate School’s School of Advanced Materials, and Peking University’s Zhengzhou Advanced Research Institute of New Materials also participated. The seminar was co-chaired by Li Ming, Party Secretary of the School, and Zou Ruqiang, Dean of the School.

Zhang Jin commendedthe achievements of the School of Materials Science and Engineering over its five years of development. He stated that the School should establish a sound research culture aligned with the “New Engineering” initiative, adhere to the principle of “solving real problems, truly solving problems,” and ensure that talented individuals are empowered to make meaningful contributions. He emphasized the need to pursue both high-level, free exploration and high-quality, organized research—the “two-legged” approach—seizing the historic opportunities presented by the development of artificial intelligence, driving a transformation and reshaping of scientific research paradigms, promoting interdisciplinary integration, and continuously deepening institutional reforms. He called on all faculty and students to strengthen their sense of historical mission, resonate with the times, and move forward in the same direction, so that the School can truly become a pioneer in Peking University’s “New Engineering” initiative.

Zou Ruqiang delivered the School’s 2025 work report. He comprehensively summarized the achievements of the past year in areas such as discipline development, talent cultivation, scientific innovation, and team building, and outlined the overall plan for the next phase of work. He stated that all faculty and staff should closely align with national strategies, work together with concerted effort, and follow the guidance of the national “the 15th Five-Year Plan,” focusing on “bottleneck” technologies in the field of new materials and serving the high-quality development of society and the economy.

Subsequently, the School held a special seminar on the “the 15th Five-Year Plan.” Vice Dean Zhou Huanping presented the School’s draft plan for the 15th Five-Year period. Xiao Yingguo, Vice Dean of the School of New Materials at the Shenzhen Graduate School, presented the Shenzhen Graduate School’s draft plan. Experts including Dai Shenglong, Martin, and Bai Shuxin provided evaluations focused on talent cultivation, large-team development, and evaluation systems and mechanisms. Participants conducted in-depth discussions on the School’s development plan. After the discussion, members of the School’s leadership team spoke in turn, based on their respective areas of responsibility, outlining their plans for future work.

In the afternoon, each research institute reported on its annual progress.. Professor Cao Anyuan from the Institute of Advanced Carbon Materials, Professor Zhan Xiaowei from the Institute of Optoelectronic Materials, Researcher Pang Quanquan from the Institute of New Energy Materials, Professor Zheng Yufeng from the Institute of Life and Health Materials, and Professors Yang Huai and Yu Haifeng from the Institute of New Structural Materials presented their institutes’ annual progress, achievements, and development plans. Participating faculty engaged in interactive discussions focusing on the development of New Engineering and discipline-specific features, curriculum construction, and the building of international journals.

To strengthen the unity of alumni, the inauguration ceremony of the Peking University Alumni Association – School of Materials Science and Engineering Chapter was held at the Materials Building in the New Yanyuan Campus. During the meeting, the Regulations on the Management of the Peking University Alumni Association – School of Materials Science and Engineering Chapter were reviewed and approved. The first Board of Directors and Board of Supervisors of the Chapter were elected, and their inaugural meetings were held. At the same time, appointment letters were presented to the “Career Development Alumni Mentors.”

The School then presented the 2025 Best Industry/Local Collaboration Partner Awards and recognized the Outstanding Teachers and Research Groups of the Year. Academician Wang Zhonglin, the first Dean of the School, retired faculty member Dong Shuxiang, faculty representatives, alumni, and current students jointly delivered a themed presentation titled “Genuine Materials: Two Decades of Achievements,” fondly recalling their journey with the School and expressing their dedication contributing to national developmentthrough science and technology.

At the same time, the School officially appointed Academician Wang Zhonglin as a Visiting Chair Professor at Peking University, and appointed General Manager Huang Youyuan as a Visiting Professor at Peking University’s Shenzhen Graduate School. The third session of the Mentor-Mentee Pairing Ceremony for young teachers and their mentors was also held.

Nearly 300 faculty members and students from the School of Materials Science and Engineering (including Shenzhen and Zhengzhou campuses) participated in the above activities.