Illustration by Ma Penghao
Academician Li Huajun (third from left) discusses with team members. Photo by Liu Yusong/Bright Images
Editor's Note
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, China's marine scientific research level has steadily improved, the marine economy has achieved high-quality development, and the cause of marine-related talents has flourished. This year's government work report proposed to vigorously develop the marine economy and build a strong maritime nation. In the new era, how to cultivate more high-level marine talents and promote the self-reliance and strength of marine science and technology has become a brand new topic. Starting from today, our magazine will launch a series of reports on "A New Journey of Strengthening the Country through Talents·Building a Strong Maritime Nation," focusing on how many marine-related talents continue to strive based on national needs, conduct genuine scientific research, achieve real results, and contribute to building a strong maritime nation.
Currently, humanity has entered a new era of marine conservation and exploitation. In the process of developing marine space, obtaining marine resources, and energy, people have built a large number of seawalls, docks, artificial islands, oil platforms, and construction equipment, etc. These facilities and equipment are often subjected to the beating and scouring of waves, strong winds, and ocean currents. Moreover, the complex and variable submarine topography and geological conditions they face can lead to massive casualties, property losses, and environmental damage once the structures become unstable.
How to eliminate hidden dangers and make marine facilities and equipment fearless of wind and waves? How to provide a solid security guarantee for human marine resource development and maintenance of marine rights? For over 30 years, Li Huajun, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a professor at the Ocean University of China, has led a marine engineering team closely around the major strategies and industrial needs of the strong maritime nation, solving a series of technical difficulties in marine engineering design theory, safe construction, and operation, injecting a continuous stream of innovative strength into the construction of a strong maritime nation.
Persevering in Innovation Amidst the Azure Seas
In 1992, Li Huajun, who had just entered his thirties, transitioned from the military to teach at the College of Engineering of the Ocean University of China. "Since I came to the Ocean University, I must study the ocean. Since I am in the College of Engineering, I must follow the path of engineering development with marine characteristics," Li Huajun said.
In 1999, when Li Huajun was attending a meeting in Nanjing, he learned about the excessive vibration phenomenon of the No.2 platform in the Chengdao oil field in the southern Bohai Sea, but the cause had not been identified for a long time. Thus, Li Huajun contacted the Chengdao oil field, hoping to undertake the diagnostic and remediation work for the platform.
To obtain real data, the inspection was conducted in the windy and wave-high winter. Team members braved the cold wind and waves to set up equipment and instruments on the platform. "Each inspection required us to stay on it for more than ten days. The severe weather and poor living conditions were nothing; the greater pressure came from the platform workers' disbelief in our ability to solve the problem. As the leader, Professor Li kept encouraging us, saying that we had to speak with facts and strength," said team member and professor at the Ocean University of China, Wang Shuqing.
After relentless efforts, the team used their innovative detection technology to identify the cause of the platform's excessive vibration and provided a remediation plan. A year later, the team returned to the Chengdao oil field and received a warm welcome. The management said that the platform, which was originally planned to be dismantled, was saved, avoiding billions of CNY in losses. Based on this, the team's series of related achievements won the second prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award.
"Committed to overcoming key technical difficulties in marine engineering, achieving fruitful results..." At the 40th anniversary development conference of the College of Engineering of the Ocean University of China, team member and dean of the college, Liang Bingchen, listed the college's ten representative achievements, including the innovative technology of "marine engineering sediment transport and estuary and coastal evolution," which embodies his wisdom and sweat.
The Shijiu Port Area remediation project of Rizhao Port in Shandong, which started in 2016, is China's first case of port industrial shoreline retreat and sea restoration, and ecological shoreline repair. How to effectively deal with the problems of big waves, rapid currents, and chaotic stone stacking before the remediation and repair? How to ensure the stability of the artificial beach in such harsh conditions? After joint research on the plan by multiple units, Liang Bingchen's developed "regional scale wave-current-sediment coupling mechanism and precise simulation prediction technology model of shore beach evolution" was successfully applied, achieving engineering effects that consider safety, environmental protection, and economy.
For over 30 years, the marine engineering team of the Ocean University of China has taken the azure ocean as their main battlefield, solving a series of technical difficulties in marine engineering design theory, safe construction, and operation, and developing a marine engineering safety and protection technology system. The team has undertaken the first basic science center project in the marine field of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, led and won three second prizes of the National Science and Technology Progress Award, one national-level teaching achievement award, one highest award of science and technology in Shandong Province, and more than ten provincial and ministerial-level scientific and technological awards.
Serving the Nation's Major Strategic Needs
"Servicing the national strategy and strengthening the sea with engineering" is the driving force behind the research conducted by the marine engineering team of the Ocean University of China.
Faced with the initiative of jointly building the "Belt and Road," the team took on the mission, actively integrated into the construction of the "21st Century Maritime Silk Road," offered strategic advice for related marine engineering constructions, and provided technical support.
"From the Xiamen cross-sea traffic project in Fujian to the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge, and then to the Port of Ashdod in Israel... I had the fortune to participate in some of the marine engineering constructions related to the '21st Century Maritime Silk Road.'" Team member and professor at the Ocean University of China, Fang Hui, said that Academician Li Huajun often reminded team members to remember "why we fight"—to climb the peaks of science and technology for the development of China's marine engineering.
With this sense of mission, Fang Hui successively formed representative achievements such as "Cross-scale Coupled Analysis Method and Application of Offshore Structures," winning honors such as the Young Science and Technology Award of Natural Resources and the first prize of the Marine Engineering Science and Technology Award. Team member and professor at Ocean University of China, Chen Xuguang, previously focused his research on geotechnical issues related to water conservancy. Under the guidance of Academician Li Huajun, he stepped out of his comfort zone and pivoted towards the study of marine geotechnics and subsea engineering. "Leaving your comfort zone is tough, but scientific research demands the courage to innovate," said Chen Xuguang. He believes that the deep ocean holds vast reserves of clean energy and rare minerals, and deep-sea mining can significantly contribute to achieving the country's dual carbon goals. He is willing to exert his efforts to contribute to building a maritime powerhouse.
"I am primarily dedicated to the study and development of new methodologies and design theories for the hydrodynamic analysis of marine structures. Practically, I've learned a lot of tacit knowledge from Academician Li, such as how to filter and effectively implement research topics," shared Liu Yong, a team member and professor at Ocean University of China. This tacit knowledge has become the most precious 'wealth' on his path to innovative research. In September 2022, Liu Yong was thrilled to receive the "Science Exploration Award," a public welfare award aimed at supporting exploratory research by young scientists under the age of 45 in the fields of basic science and cutting-edge technology. Liu Yong became the first scientist from his institution to receive this award.
Cross-collaboration: Cultivating a Fertile Ground for Talent Development
"Let a hundred flowers bloom," "Argue for the truth," "Contend for technological innovation" ... For a long time, the open, inclusive, and collaborative atmosphere of the Ocean University of China's marine engineering team has been a fertile ground for nurturing talent.
"Just boldly carry on with your research, come to me if you encounter difficulties, and I'll take the responsibility if problems arise," Zhang Qiyi, a team member and professor at Ocean University of China, always remembers the trust and encouragement given by Academician Li Huajun, motivating him to forge ahead in the field of marine engineering.
With the dream of "developing marine geotechnics and accelerating the exploitation of marine resources," Zhang Qiyi joined the team in 2010. In an atmosphere that is liberal and encourages innovation, he independently developed the first set of static and dynamic multi-degree-of-freedom geotechnical testing loading equipment in 2013. Furthermore, under the leadership of Academician Li Huajun, Zhang Qiyi and his team members continued their success, developing a complete set of "integrated dredging, laying, and burying equipment" for cable operations over three years, which has attracted significant attention within the industry.
"There was a time when Professor Liu Yong and I would often 'argue.' He would say my understanding was incorrect, and I thought his perspective was skewed. After arguing, we'd reflect and then pick up where we left off," Fang Hui said with a smile. Academician Li arranged for him and Liu Yong to collaborate, despite their backgrounds in solid mechanics and fluid mechanics, respectively, leading to frequent debates. "In the team's open communication atmosphere, the truth becomes clearer through argument, disagreements diminish, and collaboration becomes harmonious."
Currently, the team has become a core group of expert professors led by academicians, featuring diverse levels and multidisciplinary expertise. It has evolved into a high-level innovative research team, primarily composed of outstanding domestic and international PhDs, and is seen as a "dream team" in marine engineering, contributing to the nation's strategy for the ocean. In 2023, the team was recognized as a "National College Huang Danian-style Teacher Team."
Building on this team, in November 2023, the Ocean University of China's Marine Engineering Equipment Basic Science Research Center and the Institute of Marine Engineering and Technology Innovation were established. These two institutions, along with the Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Engineering, actively target bottlenecks, challenges, and pain points in the industry chain, creating an academic innovation chain from "basic theory to technological innovation to outcome incubation." This, in turn, establishes a multi-disciplinary collaborative development model integrating "education, innovation, technology, and industry."
Li Huajun expressed that this development model is based on the comprehensive development advantages of the university's multidisciplinary integration and distinctive marine features, aiming to create a unique highlight for Ocean University of China's marine engineering discipline, better serving national strategies, talent cultivation, and scientific research.
(Reporter: Liu Yanjie, Correspondent: Feng Wenbo)
