SOE 2024 Opening Ceremony for Incoming Graduate Students
As autumn sets the stage for a new journey, the new semester begins with a fresh and vibrant outlook. On the afternoon of August 23rd, School of Environment (SOE) held the 2024 Opening Ceremony for Incoming Graduate Students in East Hall of the Sino-Italian Ecological and Energy Efficient Building. The ceremony was attended by Liu Shuming, SOE Dean; Wang Can, Chairman of SOE School Council; Liu Yi, Associate Director of Tsinghua Undergraduate Academic Affairs Office; Hu Hongying, Dean of Xiuzhong College and Professor at the School of Environment; Yue Dongbei, Xu Ming, and Lan Huachun, SOE Associate Deans; Xi Jingying, Vice Chairman of SOE School Council; as well as the Assistant Dean, directors of departments and research institutes, faculty representatives, head of the Graduate Student Affairs Team, administrative staff, and assistants of graduate students moral education. The ceremony was hosted by Associate Dean Yue Dongbei. Over 160 new graduate students attended the ceremony in person, while nearly 5,000 people participated via live stream.
Yue Dongbei hosts the opening ceremony
In his speech, Liu Shuming warmly welcomed the new students and expressed high expectations for their future achievements. He encouraged the students to remember the university’s motto, "Self-discipline and Social Commitment", and to dedicate themselves to building a beautiful China and pioneering the development of ecological civilization. He noted that students are living in a prosperous era and carry the historical mission of contributing to the construction of a beautiful China. He urged them to be driven by innovation, tackle real problems, pursue genuine scholarship, and enhance their innovative abilities through questioning and focused effort. At the same time, he hoped that the students would take exemplary Tsinghua alumni as role models, refine their character, adjust their life direction, and strive to become the scientific talents needed by the country and the people. Finally, he expressed the expectation that new students embrace this new beginning, keep pace with the times, take proactive roles, and become the new generation capable of shouldering the responsibility of national rejuvenation. He encouraged them to let their youth shine brightly through hard work and dedication.
Liu Shuming delivers a speech
Hu Hongying delivered a speech as the faculty representative. He congratulated the students on starting a new chapter in their lives and shared his personal experiences and reflections on the development of the environmental field. He emphasized that environmental professionals should adopt an "environmental" mindset: they need to have an objective and in-depth understanding of the characteristics of the "environment" itself, taking into account its complex system features in their research. They should also have a comprehensive and systematic understanding of the "environmental cause", focusing on identifying problems, promoting policies, and developing standards. Additionally, they must have a correct and dialectical understanding of the "environmental discipline", foster practical perspectives and engineering thinking, and continuously seek research questions with "environmental value" from practical experience. Finally, he encouraged the students to enjoy their time on campus, infuse new vitality into the environmental discipline, and devote their youthful energy to achieving modernization with harmony between humanity and nature.
Hu Hongying delivers a speech
Xue Boyuan, a Ph.D. student of the 2021 cohort, shared his research insights as a graduate student representative, reflecting on his journey from confusion and anxiety to a steadfast belief in his work. He stated that the path of academia is scattered with challenges, but it is precisely these challenges that strengthen our will and enhance our wisdom. He encouraged all students to explore boldly, develop comprehensively, participate actively in academic activities, cultivate hobbies, find a balance between academia and life, and become well-rounded young talents. At the end, he inspired them with the words, "Spread your talents far and wide, across land and sea", urging them to let their youth flourish at the School of Environment.
Xue Boyuan delivers a speech
Zhao Lei, who enrolled in the 2024 Education Program for Engineering Doctors of Innovation and Leadership, returned to campus as a new Tsinghua student and shared his reflections on technological needs, industrial innovation, and new forms of productive forces. He expressed his hope to make breakthroughs in environmental governance and application innovation, transforming the on-campus and industrial innovations into core technologies and engineering applications enjoyed by the industry. Through dedicated effort, he aims to build a bridge for applying innovation, delivering the research achievements of outstanding engineers to the industry, and contributing to high-quality development.
▲ Zhao Lei delivers a speech
Zhang Yi, a representative of the 2024 full-time doctoral students, shared his insights on how to shoulder the responsibilities of an environmental professional and become an interdisciplinary talent in the new era, drawing from his own experiences. He emphasized the importance of self-discipline, social commitment, and the boldness to explore the unknown and push beyond their personal limits. He remarked that as students they should look up to the stars while remaining grounded, integrating scientific research with national needs, and contributing to the country through their work. He also pointed out the need to embrace interdisciplinary approaches, envision the future, keep pace with the times, and innovate boldly. Together, they should explore new solutions to environmental challenges and strive to achieve sustainable development goals.
Zhang Yi delivers a speech
SOE Opening Ceremony for incoming graduate students
Four decades of development have ushered in an exciting new era for the School of Environment. The new cohort of graduate students, in the prime of their youth and with a deep yearning for truth, are embarking on a journey for knowledge. May the students, on the fertile ground of Tsinghua, write a brilliant chapter of youth with wisdom and hard work, grow into someone capable of shouldering the great task of national rejuvenation, and contribute to building a beautiful China and advancing global sustainable development!
Image | Chen Tianyin, Jiang Chengxu
Text | Wang Shiyi
