On April 22, the "Joint Center for Polar Research of Chinese Universities" (hereinafter referred to as the "Polar Joint Center") was held at the Beijing Normal University. The Polar Joint Center was jointly constructed by 25 Chinese universities including Beijing Normal University, Tsinghua University, Ocean University of China, Jilin University, and Peking University, which was also supported by the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Natural Resources, China Meteorological Administration, and other national ministries and commissions for the purpose of serving the national polar strategy and the community of human destiny.

More than one hundred leaders from joint universities and related ministries and commissions, and experts in polar research field attended the meeting. Xu Guanhua, the former Minister of Science and Technology and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lei Chaozi, Director of the Science and Technology Division of the Ministry of Education, Yao Tandong, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wu Lixin, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Vice President of the Ocean University of China, and Hao Fanghua, Vice President of Beijing Normal University, etc., jointly inaugurated the Polar Joint Center.

participating experts

April 22 was the 49th “World Earth Day”. The drastic changes in the climate and environment of the Earth's south and north poles are seriously affecting the human lives. The understanding, utilization, and protection of the polar regions are of great strategic importance for the national security and economic development of China. The Party Central Committee and the State Council attached great importance to polar research work and issued many important instructions. In January 2018, the State Council Information Office issued the "China's Arctic Policy: White Paper," which clearly shows China's attitude towards the Arctic.

The Polar Joint Center consists of academic board, secretariat and university members. The secretariat is located at the College of Global Change and Earth System Science of Beijing Normal University, and responsible for the communications between different organizations. Chen Xiao, expert in polar research, dean of the college, is the secretary general of the joint center. Professor Gong Peng, dean of the School of Science at Tsinghua University, director of the Department of Earth System Science (DESS), is the major member of the academic board. Beijing Normal University promised to provide basic operating expenses for the joint center, serve all the members, and strive for national and social resources.

The overall orientation and objective of the Polar Joint Center include the following four aspects: “a platform for collaborative research and exchanges in the polar research between universities, a window for international exchange and cooperation, a base for the cultivation of “cross talents”, and a think tank for the science and diplomacy related to the polar issuses”.

The main directions of the research of the Polar Joint Center include: polar area environmental monitoring and simulation, polar changes and global effects, polar environment and waterway resources, and sustainable development.

Chen Xiao, Dean of the College of Global Change and Earth System Science of Beijing Normal University, was introducing the general situation of the center

Group Photo

The Polar Joint Center is committed to cultivating multidisciplinary talents in polar research and supporting the polar related affairs and major scientific programs in China. The establishment of the Polar Joint Center is an important step for the Chinese universities to respond positively to the strategy of building a community of human destiny, and accelerating the construction of an innovative country.The prospects for the development of the Polar Union Center are exciting!