Source: School of Environmental Science and Engineering
Written by: School of Environmental Science and Engineering
Edited by: Wang Dongmei

On April 24-25, 2017, the 2nd Australia-China Joint Workshop on Soil and Food Security was successfully held on Guangzhou South Campus of Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU). More than 90 scholars and graduate students from related field of SYSU and Griffith University (GU) attended the workshop and shared with each other their research achievements. The future bilateral collaborations on the joint research, student training, and other aspects were also discussed.

At the opening ceremony, Prof. Rongliang Qiu, Dean of School of Environmental Science and Engineering (SESE) at SYSU, warmly welcomed the participants from GU and introduced the collaborative progress between SYSU and GU. Prof. Ned Pankhurst, Senior Deputy Vice Chancellor of GU, Prof. Tim Ryley, Head of School of Natural Sciences, GU, and Prof. Zhihong Xu, Director of Environmental Futures Research Institute, GU, also made speeches on behalf of GU. Scholars from both sides including Prof. Robert Sang (Acting Pro Vice Chancellor of GU), Prof. Huijun Zhao (Director of Centre for Clean Environment and Energy, GU), Prof. Zhihong Xu, Associate Professor Rebecca Ford (GU), Prof. Renduo Zhang, Prof. Yetao Tang and Prof. Xin Yang made presentations on water and soil remediation, food security, new environmental materials technology, and other related topics, attracting wide attention and generating heated discussions.

During the round-table session of the workshop, Prof. Rongliang Qiu, Prof. Yetao Tang (Deputy Dean of SESE, SYSU), Prof. Ned Pankhurst, and Mr. Sherman Xia (Regional Director for Greater China, International Office, GU) had an in-depth discussion for further collaborative possibilities and subsequently reached a consensus in the fields of common interest including joint international research projects application, joint organization for high-level international conferences, and joint supervision of students.

On the afternoon of April 25, Prof. Zhihong Xu and Associate Prof. Rebecca Ford gave lectures to and discussed with undergraduates who are interested in Yat-sen Overseas Study Program and “3+1+1” Joint Training Program. Prof. Zhihong Xu also provided insight and shared his experiences as a professional mentor and editor of international journals with young scientists and graduate students on scientific research and paper publication.

SESE has been working closely with the Environmental Futures Research Institute of GU since 2013. In 2014, a cooperation agreement for the establishment of Australia-China Center for Environmental Quality and Sustainability was jointly signed. In 2016, the “3+1” Joint Training Project for Undergraduates was launched, and the first Joint Workshop on Soil and Food Security was held. As an important platform for academic exchanges between SYSU and GU, this joint workshop will be held annually.