On April 21st, the opening ceremony of the 2nd Earth and Planetary Science Culture Week was held at Peking University. Attending the ceremony were Zhang Rongqiao, the chief designer of China's first Mars exploration mission "Tianwen-1" and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Peking University's Vice President and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Park Seilong, Director of the Energy Research Institute of Peking University and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jin Zhijun, Wang Yanfen, Executive Vice Secretary and Vice President of the Party Committee of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhao Zhidan, Vice President of China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Cui Ximin, Vice President of China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Pan Mao, Honorary Dean of the School of Earth and Space Sciences of Peking University, Zhang Lifu, Dean, and Li Peijun, Secretary of the Party Committee, as well as representatives from cooperating units and alumni. The opening ceremony was chaired by Zhang Lifu.
Park Se-Ryong's Address (Photo courtesy of Peking University)
Park Se-Ryong pointed out that this cultural week will feature a variety of activities with rich content and distinct characteristics, aiming to better promote the concept of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. He emphasized that this year marks the "Year of Discipline Quality" at Peking University, hoping that the College of Earth and Planetary Sciences will take this cultural week as an opportunity to further contemplate major issues in the development of Earth and planetary sciences, strengthen interdisciplinary integration, and organize scientific research efforts. Peking University will continue to deepen exchanges and cooperation with sister units, promoting the spirit of "down-to-earth, gazing at the stars" tradition, and jointly write a new chapter in the development of Earth and planetary sciences in the new era.
Wang Yanfen, on behalf of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, congratulated the event and expressed that the holding of this cultural week at Peking University for Earth and Planetary Sciences will help enhance the public's literacy in Earth sciences and promote the cultivation of talents in this field. She briefly introduced the history and development philosophy of the Earth Science discipline at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, hoping for complementary advantages and deepened cooperation with sister universities like Peking University and other relevant units to make greater contributions to the cultivation of top-notch innovative talents in Earth sciences and to serve major scientific and technological innovation tasks in China.
Jin Zhijun introduced the basic situation of the International Earth Science Olympiad. He stated that the event is dedicated to selecting and cultivating a group of outstanding high school students who love Earth sciences, continuously providing successors for the discipline's development. It is expected that this year, more than 500 teachers and students from over 40 countries and regions will come to Beijing to participate in the competition. This is also the first time that the event is hosted by a mainland Chinese university since its establishment, which will further promote international exchanges and cooperation in Chinese Earth sciences and enhance the influence of Chinese Earth science disciplines internationally. We will carefully prepare for all aspects of the competition to ensure its complete success.
Zhang Rongqiao, Park Se-Ryong, Jin Zhijun, Wang Yanfen, and others took the stage together to announce the opening of the second Earth and Planetary Science Cultural Week at Peking University and the launch of preparations for the 17th International Earth Science Olympiad.
During the opening ceremony of the second Earth and Planetary Science Cultural Week and the launch ceremony of the 17th International Earth Science Olympiad, a promotional video for the 17th International Earth Science Olympiad was also released.
At the scene of the opening ceremony, there were also various Earth science-related exhibitions such as VR experiences: "Dragon Under the Sea," "Plate Drift," "Remote Sensing Mapping," and "VR Experience: SPACE ENGINE."
After the opening ceremony, volunteers from the College of Earth and Planetary Sciences led participating students and teachers to visit the exhibitions and experience the activities on-site. The activities were splendid and attracted the attention of teachers and students.
During the second Earth and Planetary Science Cultural Week, the College of Earth and Planetary Sciences will also hold various thematic activities such as the "Li Siguang Lecture Hall" sixth lecture, the Earth Science Yan Yuan Forum, the exchange meeting of micro-party courses of student party branches from four schools, Li Siguang Lecturer Group's Earth Day-themed popular science lectures, "Cherish the Earth" Earth Day-themed night runs, and "Promise of the Star Sea" stargazing activities, presenting a diverse range of rich and distinctive thematic activities.
