On April 21, 2022, the Teaching Seminar of 2022 Spring Semester, Department of Earth System Science (DESS), Tsinghua University and the 665th Doctoral Forum of Tsinghua University were held in the Multi-function Hall, M Floor, Meng Minwei Science and Technology Building. Chang Yue, a member of the Office of Tsinghua University Commission for Discipline Inspection, and Yao Fei, Deputy Director of the Training Office of Tsinghua University Graduate School were invited to attend the meeting. Also attending the meeting was Professor Luo Yong, Party Secretary and Dean of DESS, Tsinghua University, all the faculty members of DESS teachers, department office staff and student representatives. The meeting was chaired by Professor Lin Yanluan, Deputy Dean of DESS.

Chang Yue delivered a report titled “Building Tsingua University of Great Moral Integrity and Intellectual Rigor”. Focusing on the spirit of the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, Chang interpreted the spirit of President Xi Jinping's important speech during his visit to Tsinghua University in 2021. He analyzed the situation and typical cases of strictly strengthening Party discipline in colleges and universities, and stressed the importance of strengthening teachers’ professional ethics.

Luo Yong delivers an introduction

Luo Yong introduced the application progress of an undergraduate minor “Earth System Science” of DESS, as well as the curriculum setting of this minor program. He encouraged DESS teachers to participate in undergraduate course teaching and expand the teaching influence of DESS in many ways.

In his report, Lin Yanluan introduced the relevant work requirements of Tsinghua University on updating the training program for doctoral students, including training links and degree requirements, the establishment of the doctoral qualification examination committee, and curriculum, among others. Associate Professor Jonathan of DESS shared his thoughts on the curriculum system for the discipline of Atmospheric Science.

During the communication session, the participating faculty members held discussions on the postgraduate training program and around the theme "How to Be a Qualified Instructor: Improving the Quality of Student Training". In light of their teaching practices, the faculty discussed the adjustment of training plans, talent training and curriculum development. At the meeting, Yao Fei introduced the relevant policies and requirements of the university and the mature experience of other departments. Lu Hui, Deputy Secretary of the DESS Party Committee, introduced the relevant situation of the DESS scholarship evaluation policy, and Hu Zizhan, a student representative, shared his experience as a student in DESS.

In his concluding remarks, Luo Yong thanked the two teachers, Chang Yue and Yao Fei, for attending the meeting, and noted that with heated discussions the goal of this seminar had been achieved. He went on to say that DESS would conduct more in-depth discussions on education and teaching in this semester in accordance with the work arrangement of the 26th Educational Work Seminar of Tsinghua University Graduate School, in efforts to build consensus and jointly promote the talent training of DESS. Luo stressed the necessity of spreading DESS' educational philosophy from all directions and angles through short videos and promotional films. The ideological and political aspect of the curriculum should be strengthened, the education and teaching concepts should be optimized according to the characteristics of students in the new era, and the ideological and political concepts should be integrated into the teaching process. At the same time, we should pay attention to the students' physical and mental health and create a supportive learning atmosphere for them.

After the seminar on teaching work, DESS held a doctoral forum on the theme of "Global Change and Sustainable Development" on the afternoon of April 21st. Ten graduate students from DESS, the Academy of Social Sciences and other departments delivered academic reports.

In his address, Luo Yong noted that the doctoral forum had set up a platform for academic exchange and experience sharing for students engaged in related research of earth system science. He hoped that students would study the holistic behavior of the earth system from a global, systematic and multi-time-space perspective, strengthen their understanding of the living environment, and contribute their wisdom to serving the national basic research strategy and coping with global changes.

Upon appraisal, Ren Yanghang, a doctoral student of DESS 2021, and Xia Wenwen, a doctoral student of DESS 2018, won the Excellent Report Award.

Lu Hui, Deputy Secretary of DESS Party Committee, rendered a concluding speech. He congratulated the successful convening of the forum and thanked the faculty and students who participated in and organized the forum. He noted that this doctoral forum able to attract students from other departments demonstrated the influence of the DESS "brand" going outside the department. He pointed out that the doctoral forum offered a very valuable opportunity for students during their study, because with this platform, students could not only present their research, but also communicate face to face with many processors, thus improving their abilities in all aspects. He encouraged students to take part in such academic activities during their study in the university, so that they could learn from others' strengths and make progress together.

Faculty-student group photo

Written by Peng Xiaojuan, Liao Yuanhong and Zhang Conghe

Photographed by Wang Jiayin, Zhang Yuguang and Shi Wen

Edited by Wang Jiayin

Reviewed by Lin Yanluan, Yu Le, Lu Hui and Zhang Qiang