Tsinghua University announced on November 5 that it has established a new Research Center for Public Health so as to develop an interdisciplinary approach to pressing health issues.

According to Tsinghua Deputy President Chen Jining, the new center is aimed to encourage scholars in the fields of life science, epidemiology, health economics, health law, and social medicine to work collaboratively. "We are very interested in both basic and applied research," he said, adding that "the center plans to activate a Master's degree program within a year specifically designed for health officials and hospital administrators."

Chen Jining made these remarks at the opening ceremony of the Fifth Chinese National Conference on Health Communication.

Mr. Yin Li, Vice Minister of Ministry of Heath, also took part in the ceremony. In his keynote speech to 200 journalists, health workers, and medical researchers, Mr. Yin stressed the importance of using research findings to shape people's lifestyles and inform health policies.

(From School of Journalism and Communication)