On the morning of June 21, the 2025 Graduate Commencement Ceremony of the Department of Earth System Science (DESS) at Tsinghua University was held in the Reception Hall of the Main Building. Attending the ceremony were over 100 participants including Department Chair Luo Yong, Party Committee Secretary Geng Rui, Deputy Secretary Lu Hui, faculty representatives, Class 2025 graduates, and their family members and friends. The ceremony was presided over by Geng Rui.

The ceremony commenced with the uplifting national anthem. Professor Luo Yong announced the list of Class 2025 graduates and outstanding graduates, extending his congratulations. Xu Ruochong ("Outstanding Doctoral Graduate of Tsinghua University" for 2024-2025) and Ren Yanghang ("Outstanding Graduate of Beijing") addressed the assembly as graduate representatives.

Top to bottom, left to right: Lu Hui speaking, Xu Ruochong speaking, Ren Yanghang speaking, Luo Yong presenting letters of appointment to alumni representatives.

Xu Ruochong reflected on his academic journey within the Department. He noted that Tsinghua instilled in him a rigorous attitude of grounding work in solid foundations, an exploratory spirit of breaking new ground and pursuing innovation, and a deep sense of patriotism dedicated to serving the nation. He shared his research transition from fundamental data studies to atmospheric chemistry during his Ph.D. studies, detailing his work in building a global carbon emissions database to bolster China's voice in international climate discourse. He affirmed that his experience strengthened his resolve to align personal aspirations with national needs. After graduation, he pledged to continue advancing scientific research guided by the Tsinghua spirit and contributing to the nation's development.

Under the theme “Sink Roots, Soar High,” Ren Yanghang shared insights from her growth at Tsinghua, thanking her mentors for their dedicated guidance and exemplary teaching that helped students take root, flourish, and blossom in this fertile ground. Encouraged by her supervisor to become "a student making original contributions to Earth system science," Ren focused on resolving the bottleneck issue arising from omitted plant acclimation processes in land surface modeling, developing a three-pronged research approach encompassing "mechanism study, model development, and experimental simulation." Laboratory and field observations honed her resilience, while her "dual responsibilities" (balancing academic and administrative roles) deepened her appreciation for Tsinghua's ethos of "political integrity, professional excellence, and all-round development." She vowed to uphold the university motto "Self-Discipline and Social Commitment," integrating Tsinghua scholars' responsibility and dedication into the pulse of the nation's progress.

Speaking as a faculty representative, Professor Lu Hui praised graduates for persevering through pandemic disruptions while excelling academically, innovating courageously, serving through volunteerism, and strengthening moral character—fully exemplifying Tsinghua's tradition of responsibility. He urged graduates to carry forward the resilience tempered at Tsinghua, embrace their generational mission, pursue lifelong learning with intellectual curiosity, engage with global challenges, and translate gratitude into societal contribution. He urged graduates to actively engage in global exchanges and collaborations, amplify China's voice on the world stage, articulate its narratives with eloquence, embody patriotic dedication, uphold a commitment to excellence, emerge as pillars of strength across diverse fields, and ultimately embody Tsinghua's enduring allure and unwavering sense of responsibility.

Group photo of faculty and students attending the Commencement Ceremony.

Professor Luo Yong extended his sincerest congratulations to the graduates on their successful completion of studies and heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated faculty and supportive families. He counseled graduates to navigate change with constancy, adapt emerging proficiencies to practical purpose, observe principles with scrupulous reverence, and advance—with valor—the epochal responsibilities conferred upon them, thereby furnishing indispensable impetus to the advancement and evolution of human society.

Finally, Professor Luo Yong presented letters of appointment to the Department's 2025 alumni representatives. The ceremony concluded successfully with all attendees singing the Tsinghua University Anthem.

Written by Wang Jiayin

Reviewed by Geng Rui