On the occasion of the 105th anniversary of the birth of academician He Binglin, known as the “father of ion exchange resin” of China, the Institute of Polymer Chemistry of Nankai University celebrated its 40th birthday. The memorial conference was held on Balitai Campus on the morning of August 25.

Professor Yan Deyue and Professor Yang Wantai, academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Professor Zhang Quanxing, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Professor Liu Guojun, a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada; Professor Li Qingbiao, President of Jimei University; Professor Wang Shu, Deputy Director of the Institute of Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Professor Dong Jianhua, Former Director of polymer science at the Department of Chemical Sciences at the National Natural Science Foundation of China; Professor Li Zichen, Deputy Director of the Polymer Discipline Committee of the Chinese Chemical Society; Professor Dong Xia, Secretary-General of the Polymer Discipline Committee of the Chinese Chemical Society, and others attended the conference.

President Chen Yulu of Nankai University attended the conference and delivered a speech. The conference was also attended by Vice President Li Jing of Nankai University, and Professor Cheng Jinpei, Professor Song Licheng and Professor Zhou Qilin of the College of Chemistry, who are also academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

On behalf of the university, Chen Yulu extended a warm welcome to the guests and alumni. He said that Nankai University launched the polymer discipline in 1958, one of the earliest among Chinese Universities. Academician He Binglin, founder of the discipline of Nankai University and a well-known polymer chemist, developed the large-porous anion exchange resin which was successfully employed to separate and concentrate the radioactive element uranium, contributing greatly to the successful explosion of China’s first atomic bomb. Such achievements pioneered and led the scientific research of China’s functional polymers as well as the resin industry. In recent years, the Institute of Polymer Chemistry has undertaken a number of major national scientific research projects and achieved a great many influential results. He hoped that the Institute will cultivate more top innovative talents and produce more original landmark achievements.

Yang Wantai, on behalf of the Polymer Discipline Committee of the Chinese Chemical Society, delivered a congratulatory speech.

Wang Shu, Li Zichen, and Geng Yanhou, Dean of the School of Science of Tianjin University, delivered speeches as representatives of the sister institutes.

Liu Guojun spoke as an alumni representative.

Liu Yang, an outstanding young academic at the College of Chemistry, and Zhao Yang, a 2020 doctoral student, spoke as representatives of faculty and students, respectively.

In 2005, academician He Binglin donated his savings to “He Binglin Scholarship”. On the day of the conference, Bian Guomin, General Manager of Taier Adhesive Co., Ltd., Liu Guojun, and Li Xin, General Manager of Meizhou Gongneng Technology Co., Ltd., who graduated from the Institute of Polymer Chemistry, donated funds to the “He Binglin Scholarship”. Li Jing presented the “He Binglin Scholarship” donation certificate to them.

On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Institute of Polymer Chemistry, the Institute of Polymer Chemistry Development Fund was officially established, which will be used for discipline building, scientific research, talent training, etc.

Chen Xinfu delivered a speech as the donor representative.

Professor Zhang Wangqing, Director of the Nankai University Institute of Polymer Chemistry, reviewed the history of the polymer discipline and the Institute of Polymer Chemistry of Nankai University at the conference. According to his report, the establishment of the polymer chemistry teaching and research office in 1958 marked the beginning of the research in terms of polymer at Nankai University. In 1983, the Institute of Polymer Chemistry of Nankai University was established. In 2004, the Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials of the Ministry of Education was established. After decades of development, Nankai University’s polymer chemistry discipline has received dozens of national, provincial and ministerial scientific research awards, including the second prize of the National Natural Science Award, the National Prize for Progress in Science and Technology, and the third prize of the National Invention Award, as well as a number of provincial and ministerial teaching awards. It has become a key base for teaching, scientific and technological research and commercialization of technological achievements in China in regard to polymer chemistry science.

At present, Nankai polymer discipline keeps centering on scientific issues such as polymer synthetic chemistry, polymer physics and the relationship between polymer structure and properties in new functional polymer materials. It also keeps abreast of the international trend and aligns itself with the major strategic needs of the country. Now it focuses on four research directions: adsorption and separation of functional polymer materials, biomedical functional polymer materials, photoelectric conversion organic polymer materials, and the relationship between structure and functions of polymer materials.

On the afternoon of August 25, academician Yan Deyue of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, academician Yang Wantai of Beijing University of Chemical Technology /Tsinghua University, and academician Liu Guojun of Queen’s University of Canada were invited to give lectures and conduct academic exchanges at the 40th lecture of the “He Binglin Lecture High-end Forum” jointly organized by the College of Chemistry of Nankai University and the Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials of the Ministry of Education. 

On August 26, the Institute held a discipline development forum, where a number of Chinese and foreign experts shared their experiences and insights, and made valuable suggestions for the development of Nankai University’s polymer discipline.

Exhibitions to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Institute of Polymer Chemistry will be held at Meng Minwei Building, and the Handbook Commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the Institute of Polymer Chemistry will be published.

（Edited and translated by Nankai News Team.)