On September 21, Tsung-Dao Lee Institute (TDLI) at Shanghai Jiao Tong University held its 2024 Graduate Opening Ceremony and First Lecture by the Director in the TDLI Lecture Hall. The ceremony marked the beginning of an exciting new academic journey for the incoming class of graduate students.
The event was attended by Academician Zhang Jie, Director of the Tsung-Dao Lee Institute; Deputy Director Yang Xiaohu; Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee Li Shushu; class supervisors, faculty representatives, and all new graduate students of the Class of 2024. The ceremony was presided over by Li Shushu.
Honoring a Master, Continuing the Legacy
The ceremony began with all faculty and students standing to sing the national anthem, setting a solemn tone for the proceedings.
A special tribute video dedicated to Professor Tsung-Dao Lee was shown to the audience, paying homage to the legendary physicist and his enduring spirit of scientific exploration. As a research institute established with the strong support of Professor Lee, the entire TDLI community is committed to carrying forward his legacy and working tirelessly toward exploring the origin of matter and its evolution, contributing to the progress of science and benefiting societal development.
Institute Report and First Lecture by the Director: Upholding the Spirit of 'Quest for Infinity'
Director Zhang Jie warmly welcomed the new students and delivered the First Lecture by the Director titled "Quest for Infinity: The Origin and Evolution of Matter — and How to Achieve Fundamental Scientific Breakthroughs." He discussed key questions like "How to become a top-tier scientist?" and "How can fundamental research lead to major breakthroughs?" Zhang emphasized how TDLI has focused on solving fundamental scientific problems, established its 2035 development plan, and leveraged large-scale scientific facilities to foster an international research environment with organized research efforts aimed at achieving fundamental scientific breakthroughs.
Zhang Jie also shared that building a world-class research institute was Professor Tsung-Dao Lee's original vision and a mission entrusted to TDLI by the nation. He encouraged the new students to pursue their dreams with the spirit of "doing what is seemingly impossible" and to contribute to the development of TDLI.
Speech by Faculty Representative
In his speech as the faculty representative, Tenured Fellow Vadim Grinenko spoke about the "simple" and "not-so-simple" aspects of graduate life. He noted that at a research institute like TDLI, research topics are often chosen from highly challenging fields, meaning that students will face problems that no one has solved before. This makes the journey difficult, but also rewarding. He encouraged them to embrace their natural curiosity, explore the unknown, and persist in their scientific endeavors with passion and dedication.
Speech by Class Supervisor
Tenure-track Fellow Liu Xiaoxue, speaking as a class supervisor, emphasized her role as a companion in the students' academic journey. She assured the students that she and other faculty members would be a steadfast support system, providing guidance when faced with challenges and lighting the way when uncertainty arises. She urged the students to maintain their love and curiosity for physics and make the most of the collective strength of the TDLI community.
Speech by Senior Student Representative
Wu Yanda, one of the first Tsung-Dao Lee PhD students, shared his experiences through a vivid analogy of "points, lines, planes, and volumes," highlighting how the institute’s international training programs had expanded his research horizons. He encouraged new students to "Strengthen your foundations, maintain a long-term vision, and weave a broad, interconnected understanding." as they embark on their own journeys at TDLI, making the most of their time as PhD students.
Speech by Freshman Representative
As a representative of the new class, Huang Xiumin recounted her journey from being a visiting student at TDLI to becoming a PhD candidate. She expressed her excitement about the top-notch research environment and academic atmosphere at the institute, and her eagerness to engage in research that combines theory with observation. On behalf of the class of 2024, she pledged to make the most of their time at TDLI, striving to learn and innovate while contributing to the progress of science.
Training Program Introduction: Climbing the Peaks of Scientific Research
Deputy Director Yang Xiaohu introduced TDLI’s PHD training program, highlighting its inclusion in the Ministry of Education’s National High-Level Talent Training Program for disciplines like physics, chemistry, and biology. He discussed how the "Tsung-Dao Lee PhD Program" offers a carefully designed curriculum, an international training model, and opportunities for deep collaboration with top international research institutes. Yang Xiaohu expressed his hope that students would produce more groundbreaking research results and become the future leaders of science.
Launching Aspirations, Setting Sail for New Horizons
At the end of the ceremony, Director Zhang Jie presented each new student with a personally inscribed copy of his book "A Decade of Dream Building," encouraging them to draw inspiration from it as they embark on their journey toward realizing their dreams. After the opening ceremony, a meeting was held between the 2024 graduate students and faculty, where they discussed individual training plans, PhD career development, and research goals.
On this fertile ground of scientific discovery at the Tsung-Dao Lee Institute, may you embark on new paths, set new aspirations, and create new chapters!
