On January 17, Tsinghua University successfully held the 2022 Green, Low-carbon and Sustainable Environment Challenge online, which was attended by He Kebin, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Professor of School of Environment, Professor Liu Shuming, Chairman of School Council, Professor Hu Hongying, Winner of Tsinghua University New Centennial Teaching Achievement Award, Professor Liu Jianguo, Director of Division of Solid Waste Management, Professor Yue Dongbei, Vice Dean of the School, and more than 10 other teachers of the school.
In the opening speech, Professor Liu Shuming welcomed the students participating in the challenge and introduced the overall situation of the school from its mission, talent cultivation, scientific research, international cooperation, student activities, etc. Professor Yue Dongbei then introduced the three parts of the challenge: online lectures, teaching and interactive session.
Professor Liu Shuming is making a speech
Academician He Kebin made a keynote report entitled “Defend Blue Sky under the Goal of Carbon Neutrality”, which explained in detail the background, process and future challenges of atmospheric environmental governance, as well as the collaborative governance of China’s carbon peak, carbon neutrality and clean air. Professor Hu Hongying made a keynote report entitled “Water with Us and Future”, which explained in simple terms the profound issues of water and daily life, water resources and water environment, and looked into the future of urban water system. Professor Liu Jianguo made a keynote report entitled “From Zero-Waste City to Zero-Waste Society”, which vividly introduced the relation between economic growth and waste generation, and the principles and ways of building “Zero-Waste City” and “Zero-Waste Society”.
Professor Hu Hongying is making a keynote report
Professor Liu Jianguo is making a keynote report
Lu Xi, Zhang Fang, Dong Xin and Liu Xuehua, the four teachers taught students interesting lessons on four topics: global climate change and carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle and nitrogen cross-media pollution, environmental simulation and big data, ecosystem health and its functions. They interacted with the students through online Q&A and the like.
Online teaching
Subsequently, seven professors, Wang Can, Huang Xia, Wang Hongtao, Jiang Jingkun, Liu Huan, Liu Huijuan and Wang Hui, led the students to conduct online discussion in groups around different topics, such as energy and climate change, COVID-19 aerosol transmission and prevention, and drinking water security. Many students spoke up to share their opinions on these issues during the discussion.
Online discussion in groups
The students said that they benefited a lot from the challenge and were full of longing for university life. A student from Zhenjiang No. 1 Middle School in Jiangsu Province said: “The challenge lets us know that there is great potential in the field of environment. We must strive to solve the problem of ‘three highs and one short (high-carbon energy use, high-carbon industries, and increasing industrialized areas; short time in the transition from carbon peak to neutrality)’, explore ways to solve the global climate change crisis, and build a regional ecological cycle to deal with problems on water resources and environment. The teachers’ concerns and devotion to our country deeply moved me, and let me make a vow of ‘love our environment and make environmental protection a lifelong career’ in my heart.”
The challenge attracted 55 students from 20 provinces (including autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government). 15 teachers from the School of Environment participated in the activity, and 10 graduate teaching assistants assisted in the preparation. It has enhanced the students’ understanding of environment-related disciplines, allowed them to have broad conceptions on their own future path, and offer them the opportunity to closely feel the charm and academic atmosphere of environment major.
