On November 8, the Young Scholars Innovation Alliance (the Alliance) of Nankai University was established.President Cao Xuetao presented the nameplates to the first Alliance members, Vice president Wang Lei chaired the ceremony, and Ge Molin, academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences and professor of Chern Institute of Mathematics, and Zhou Qilin, academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences and professor of College of Chemistry, attended the event.

President Cao congratulated on the establishment of the Alliance. He said that the bright future of a university relies upon the masters and young scholars. As young scholars are the main force and vanguard achieving Nankai's new centenary goal, the establishment of the Alliance exactly carries Nankai’s expectations of young talents. He hopes that young scholars will take the Alliance as a platform to give full play to their creativity, explore the frontiers of their disciplines, and help build a more enabling environment for advancements in all disciplines. Moreover, young scholars are expected to be involved in team collaborations and promote dynamic interaction among Schools and Colleges, to create an innovation culture, carry forward and promote Naikai’s spirit of Dedication to Public Interests, Acquisition of All-round Capability, Aspiration for Progress with Each Passing Day, and make the historical contribution of our generation in the new era.

During the ceremony, Wang Lei introduced the guiding group and the internal council set up by the university for the Alliance to ensure its capacity building and development.

The first council members of the Alliance with a two-year tenure were elected at the ceremony, including the chairman, professor Liu Weiwei from College of Electronic Information and Optical Engineering; the vice chairmen, professor Guan Jian from Zhou Enlai School of Government and professor Zhang Tong from College of Environmental Science and Engineering; and General Secretaries, associate professor He Jia from School of Finance and professor Cheng Mingming from College of Computer Science.

The first forum of the Alliance with the theme of Innovation, Collaboration and Excellence was held following the inauguration ceremony. Academician Ge Molin, professor Wang Zhaojun, professor Liu Binglian, and professor Bai Changhong delivered the keynote speeches and interacted with the attendees on the cross-fertilization of disciplines.

The first Alliance members, consisting of 50 academic leaders from Nankai’s shools, colleges, and research institutes, will regularly hold exchanges and seminars to promote innovation in teaching and disciplines interaction. They will also work for serving the community and country, play a leading role in teaching, research, and public services, and drive the development of young teaching workforce.

(Reported by Lan Fang, photographed by Zong Qiqi, edited and translated by Nankai News Team.)