In order to broaden students’ horizons and enrich their spiritual life, on April 27th, Chongben Honors College of Ocean University of China held the third “Chongben Lecture” online. Professor Liping Zhou, Dean of Peking University Institute of Ocean Research, was invited to make a lecture titled ‘From the Loess Plateau to the Indian Ocean’ for teachers and students. Yu Zhigang, President of OUC listened to the lecture online. The lecture was hosted by Huiwang Gao, Dean of Chongben Honors College.
Professor Liping Zhou talked about his journey from Peking University to the Free University of Brussels, and then from Cambridge University back to Peking University. He reviewed his research experience from loess to ocean, and showed the students the charming earth science and his magnificent life trajectory. Professor Zhou started with his research on loess and his deep feelings for loess, and connected loess with the deep sea through geomagnetic research. At the beginning, he was an outsider who felt “fun” and “cool” to go to sea. He completed the transition from outsider to insider after participating in the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea scientific expedition. According to Professor Zhou's recount, the loess and the ocean are part of the earth, and he has always been curious and passionate about the planet where humans live. Professor Zhou said that during the journey of scientific exploration, his mentors, friends and students were all solid forces that influenced and supported him from outsiders to insiders.
In the interactive session, Professor Zhou answered questions such as How to overcome setbacks and difficulties, Secrets of continuous scientific exploration and The significance of studying abroad raised by the students. He said that the selfless support and encouragement of the teachers enabled him to maintain a long-term interest. He was deeply impressed by seeing the gray-haired professors attentively attending lectures when he was studying for a doctorate at Cambridge University, and then realized the importance of being curious. As for the difficulties in scientific research, he used courage to face, encouraging students to dare to question and challenge.
At the end of the lecture, President Zhigang Yu expressed his gratitude to Professor Zhou for his wonderful presentation, and appreciated the form and content of the Chongben lecture online. He told the studens, during the special period of fighting the COVID-19, in addition to taking classes and listening to lectures, you should also choose a few books of interest, read and think earnestly, and be curious and appreciative about science and life. President Yu also made an appointment wiht the students to meet and communicate face to face after returning to school.
More than 120 people attended the lecture, including the 2019 grade students from Chongben Honors College, students from College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, as well as relevant leaders and teachers from Chongben Honors College.
