On the afternoon of September 6, the inaugural ceremony of the Class of 2021 graduate students of the Department of Earth System Science was held in 6A205 of the sixth teaching building. Luo Yong, Dean and Secretary of the Party Branch of the Department, Zhang Qiang, Deputy Dean (in charge of teaching) of the Department, Yang Kun, faculty representative, and Lu Hui, Director of the Graduate Student Work Group attended the inaugural ceremony. The ceremony was presided over by Wu Haiping, Deputy Secretary of the Department Party Branch.

 Dean Luo Yong addresses the ceremony

In his address, Luo Yong congratulated and welcomed the new graduate students as members of the Department of Earth System Science. He introduced the historical mission, vision and development goals of the Department of Earth System Science to the students, and presented the achievements of the Department since its establishment. Luo Yong noted that the teachers and students of the Department of Earth System Science value the leveraging of interdisciplinary advantages and make collaborative efforts to achieve many excellent research results, contributing to national development and rejuvenation. Luo expressed his hope that all new graduate students would carry forward the fine tradition of the Department of Earth System Science, make good use of various resources of Tsinghua University and the Department, properly handle all kinds of relationships including the relationship between supervisor and student, master abilities and skills, and make contributions to solving major problems faced by social development in China.

Wu Haiping, Deputy Secretary of the Department Party Branch, presides over the ceremony

Yang Kun speaks on behalf of faculty

Professor Yang Kun of the Department of Earth System Science delivered a speech as a faculty representative. Yang, in the light of his previous experience in guiding graduate students, encouraged the students to follow the motto of Tsinghua University, “Self-Discipline and Social Commitment”. In academic research, they should not be entangled in short-term gains and losses, but bravely address genuine problems instead of being opportunistic. Relying on the inter-disciplinary tradition of the Department of Earth System Science, they should gradually build up a holistic mindset in their discipline direction and bravely transcend themselves to achieve excellence.

 Graduate student representative Yue Siyu delivered a speech

Yue Siyu, a Class of 2017 graduate student of the Department of Earth System Science, spoke on behalf of the graduate students. In the light of her study experience in the Department of Earth System Science in Tsinghua, Yue introduced various academic resources, practice resources and physical exercise resources of the university to the students. She further guided new students that they should lay a good academic foundation, actively participate in various activities in the Department and the University, communicate with graduate supervisors and students, carry forward the excellent tradition of Tsinghua and the Department of Earth System Science, do all the work in a down-to-earth manner, and realize their dream in the great cause of national development and national rejuvenation.

Shen Jianxiang renders a speech on behalf of new graduate students

Shen Jianxiang, winner of Tsinghua University’s “Future Scholar” Scholarship, spoke as representative of the new graduate students. In his speech, he recalled the origin of his engagement of earth system science, and shared his experience in earth system science research and drawing happiness from research. Shen Jianxiang believed that the Department of Earth System Science is an excellent research platform with an open and inclusive academic atmosphere and mentors. He hoped to complete the transition from a novice to a new academic star in the Department of Earth System Science in Tsinghua, lay a solid foundation for engaging in research in the future, and contribute to the historical process of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

More than 30 new graduate students of the Department of Earth System Science attended the inaugural ceremony. This year, due to measures of pandemic prevention and control, the Department of Earth System Science launched a series of preschool education activities for new graduate students online one week before the inaugural ceremony. One week after the ceremony, the Department of Earth System Science continued to carry out orientation activities, such as education on Tsinghua tradition, lectures on essentials of specialties of learning, frontier lectures, and visits and practices.

Written by: Hu Zizhan

Photo/Text Editing: Wang Jiayin

Checked by: Wu Haiping, Lu Hui, and Chen Yawei