Graduate Students International Workshop to the University of Michigan

The Graduate Students International Workshop, consisting of five graduate students and three teachers from the College of Environmental & Resource Sciences, took a meaningful study and research tour to the University of Michigan from September 30 to October 5. During the visit, they attended the US-China Environment and Sustainability Forum and had an academic exchange with the PhD students from the University of Michigan. The workshop not only helps the graduate students to broaden their international horizon, but also deepen their awareness of the environment and sustainability development.

From Oct 1-2, the group attended the US-China Environment and Sustainability Forum（UCESF@UM）. The forum was sponsored by the American Academy of Engineering and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and organized by several colleges of the University of Michigan. Nearly 150 scholars from universities and research institutions of China and the United States attended the forum, with themes related to natural resources, environmental health protection, sustainable development education, etc.

Professor Glen Daigger, Academician of the American Academy of Engineering and Professor of University of Michigan, gave a keynote speech entitled "Closing the Knowing/Doing Gap on the Environment and Sustainability". Professor Daigger explained the key to environmental governance. It needs to fully understand the gap between ideal and reality in the process of social development, and then take effective measures to eliminate the gap. In the early stage of development, any new technology is often accompanied by a large amount of cost investment. The same is true for the development and promotion of energy conservation and emission reduction. Professor Daigger believes that researchers should not be self-sufficient and must be brave in innovation. Only when technology matures and environmental sustainability can become possible.

Professor QU Jiuhui, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, foreign academician of the American Academy of Engineering, and Professor of Tsinghua University/Economic Environment Research Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences delivered a keynote speech entitled “Blue Solutions for Constructing C-Neutral City”. Professor QU Jiuhui pointed out the necessity of comprehensive treatment of new wastewater, and proposed to promote the concept of comprehensive wastewater treatment facilities for wastewater recovery. Currently in the shutdown period of the water industry revolution, water as an important material and energy resource should be included in the urban planning embodiment. An integrated urban water and resource management system should be built through technological and conceptual innovations to avoid global water crises, secure water supply and improve water and resource use efficiency.

During the forum, many other well-known scholars also made brilliant academic reports on various topics of the forum. In the “Sustainability Education” session, Professor HU Baolan, the Associate Dean of the College of Environmental and Resource Sciences ZJU, delivered a speech entitled “Education on Environment and Sustainability of College of Environmental and Resource Sciences”. She introduced the college and the joint educational programs as well as the future cooperation with the University of Michigan.

In the evening of October 2, Poster Exhibition of the US-China Environment and Sustainability Forum was held in the Michigan League, where nearly 40 posters from Chinese and American students were displayed, and heated discussions and exchanges were held. Zhichao Hu, Wenji Li and Rui Xiao, members of the visiting delegation, participated in the exhibition, and exchanged views with students at home and abroad on their research topics. In the process of Poster communication, they not only received valuable advices from others on their research topics, but also made new friends through this opportunity.

During the meeting, the group also met with the outstanding alumni of Zhejiang University who studies at the University of Michigan. They enthusiastically discussed about the problems and solutions encountered in the course study, life and scientific research, and learned a lot of valuable foreign study experience.

After the discussion, the teachers and students from the College of Environmental and Resource Sciences of Zhejiang University took a group photo:

In the morning of October 3, Professor HU Baolan and the delegation members visited Professor Jerome Lynch, Dean of the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan, and discussed the cooperative opportunities between the two schools. CERS has already signed a 3 + 1 + 1 accelerated master program agreement with the School of Public Health of the University of Michigan. We’d like to further promote the international cooperation with the University of Michigan.

In the afternoon the group members visited the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering for an academic communication with professor Glen Daigger's research group. Firstl, Avery Carlson and Cheng Yang, PHD students of professor Glen Daigger, made academic presentations about membrane aerated biofilm reactor and artificial intelligence application in water treatment respectively. Then PHD students of the ZJU group also gave reports of their research progresses. After questions and communication, a further understanding of academic research contents of everyone had been formed. Finally, under the guidance of professor Daigger, the group visited the laboratory with advanced facilities. Professor Daigger patiently explained the specific functions of different equipment and devices to the members of the group, which benefited them a lot. Through mutual communication and visits, members realized the similarities and differences in academic research at home and abroad, they also realized the differences between themselves and the world's advanced level, and broadened their international vision.