Tsinghua University and the University of Cambridge recently organized an online workshop focusing on climate change.
The workshop, with the theme of “Tackling Climate Change: Initiatives, Research and Collaborations” and “Showcasing Projects Funded by Tsinghua-Cambridge Joint Research Initiative Fund”, brought together more than 80 experts and scholars from both universities.
Zeng Rong, Vice-President of Tsinghua University, and Anne Ferguson-Smith, current Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and International Partnerships at the University of Cambridge, attended the virtual meeting and delivered opening remarks.
The workshop was chaired by Henning Sirringhaus, a professor of physics at the University of Cambridge.
Vice President Zeng said that in 2019, Tsinghua and Cambridge had launched a joint research fund to support researchers to carry out research cooperation and academic exchanges in the fields of sustainable development and future emerging technologies. It reflected the commitment of the two sides to work together on addressing global challenges.
“Although the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting international exchanges, the research teams of the two universities have overcome various difficulties to strengthen their research cooperation and have made good progress”, said Zeng.
He expressed his expectations that the two sides would continue to work together to create a more integrated, resilient and sustainable future.
In her speech, Anne Ferguson-Smith said that the joint research fund aims to pool together the research strength of the two universities.
She also noted that the University of Cambridge and Tsinghua University will further deepen cooperation and work together to create a better future.
During the thematic session “Tackling Climate Change: Initiatives, Research and Collaborations”, Professor Li Zheng, Executive Vice-President of the Tsinghua University Institute of Climate Change and Sustainable Development, and Professor Emily Shuckburgh, Director of Cambridge Zero, introduced the work of their institutions in coping with climate change and realizing the zero-carbon future from the perspectives of research, education, dialogue and exchange.
Wang Zhe, Deputy Dean of the Tsinghua University Institute for Carbon Neutrality, Professor Shaun Fitzgerald from Cambridge University, Associate Professor Yu Le from the Department of Earth System Science and Associate Professor Wang Xiaonan from the Department of Chemical Engineering of Tsinghua University, gave keynote speeches.
In 2019, the two universities signed a strategic scientific research cooperation agreement, and jointly established the joint research initiative fund. To date, 23 cooperation projects have received funding, covering key areas such as sustainable development and emerging technologies.
Editors:John Olbrich, Li Han
