Seminar with Topics of ‘Professor Gao Tingyao - 70 years of Water Management’ and of ‘the Development of Environmental Science’ was Successfully Held

On October 6th, the seminar with topics of ‘Professor Gao Tingyao - 70 years of Water Management’, who was the former university president of TJU, and of ‘the Development of Environmental Science’ was successfully held. Several academicians of Chinese Academy of Engineering attended this event, as well as Chief Engineer of Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Zhang Bo, Director of Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment, Cheng Peng, Party Secretary General of TJU, Fang Shouen, Executive Vice President, Lv Peiming, Vice Presidents, Tong Xiaohua and Huang Xiangfeng, leaders Zhou Jialun, Gu Guowei and Zhu Shaozhong. The leaders of relevant university departments and those of the Environmental Science and Engineering College, the representatives of tretired teachers, and the representatives of students directed by Professor Gao Tingyao also attended this event.

Fang Shouen said that, the 70 years of Professor Gao Tingyao's life of water management, is also the 70 years during which his life goals resonate with the national environmental protection career, the 70 years in which his struggle direction advances with the construction and development of Tongji University, and the 70 years in which he devoted his fully sincerity to the cultivation of talents of the university. This shows the lofty spirits of the previous TJers who always cherish the motherland, serve the people, dare to be the first and dare to shoulder heavy responsibilities. Prof. Gao Tingyao is a pioneer in China's water management, a leader in promoting Tongji university to broaden its global vision and international vision, a "big Mr." who cares about the growth of students and cares about the future students, and has made important contributions to the development of the country, the industry and the university.

Academician Hao Jiming said Professor Gao Tingyao has been committed to improving China's environmental quality for 70 years and has made important contributions to China's environmental industry and engineering technology. As a student representative, Zhang Bo expressed his admiration and gratitude to Professor Gao Tingyao for his tireless, rigorous scholarship and dedication to cultivating young people. Cheng Peng thanked Professor Gao Tingyao for his 70 years of caring about the environmental protection of Shanghai, and playing an important decision-making role in several key environmental protection projects such as Suzhou River treatment, Huangpu River raw water treatment technology research and development, and Bailong Port sewage treatment plant design and operation.

Klaus Topfer, who previously was the UN Vice Secretary General and the Executive Director of UNEP, and now the President of darmstadt Technical University, also sent congratulation letters and videos. He reviewed the precious exchanges and cooperations between he and prof. Gao. He also acknowledged the outstanding contributions of Prof. Gao Tingyao and the ‘TONGJI Gao Tingyao Foundation for Environmental Science and Technology’, which he initiated, to the career of global environment, sustainable development and talent training. Meanwhile, he looked forward to continuing to learn from and exchange with China, working together to find innovative solutions to global challenges.

Prof. Huang Xiangfeng presented a gift to Prof. Gao Tingyao on behalf of the university, and the College of Environmental Science and Engineering presented a photo album to Prof. Gao Tingyao. Prof. Xu Zuxin presented flowers to Prof. Gao on behalf of his students to express her gratitude to Prof. Gao Tingyao for his outstanding contributions to the major development and talent cultivation.

Prof. Gao tingyao expressed his sincere gratitude to all academicians, leaders and guests for their care, support and help to the College of Environmental Science and Engineering of Tongji University. He reviewed his life experience in water management over the past 70 years, from studying in his youth, to teaching at tongji University after graduation, to sharing his life experience as the president of Tongji University about teaching, getting along with people, developing disciplines and integrating into the national environmental protection career. He recalled the learning time with his teacher, Mr. Wu Jiajun, and the working experience with the old headmaster, Mr. Li Guohao. He pointed out that the personality and integrity of the two gentlemen, who have always been his models for learning. In terms of discipline development, he pointed out that for China's environmental protection carrer, there is no most advanced technology, but the most practical technology should be the goal of every environmental work, the technology suitable for China's national conditions and environmental needs. In the end, Professor Gao Tingyao put forward the earnest hope to the young teachers of the college according to the family instruction of Mr. Qiu Fazu, "Be satisfied with life, do things, and be dissatisfied with learning". Professor Gao Tingyao's speech was simple but sincere, full of deep family feelings and hope for the development of the environmental discipline, which moved the guests and led to bursts of warm applause.

Dai Xiaohu, Dean of College of Environmental Science and Engineering, delivered a report on the development of environmental discipline in Tongji University at the seminar. The academicians and the participating experts affirmed the achievements of environmental discipline of Tongji University in the construction of first-class discipline, and discussed and guided the future development of the discipline.

Young teachers at Environmental Science and Engineering College said that as an excellent representative of Tongji university professor, Professor Gao accumulated numerous life wisdom and successful experience in important issues of talent cultivation, engineering research, and university management. These are all vivid and powerful illustrations of "Tongji Spirit", as well as a valuable spiritual wealth for Tongji university young teachers and students. Entering the new stage of development, strengthening the construction of environmental discipline and promoting the transformation of scientific research achievements are the historical mission and important task of "double first-class" universities must undertake. The youth of Tongji University should shoulder the mission bravely, continue to work hard along the road of water management by Professor Gao Tingyao, and make due contributions to the construction of China's ecological civilization and the realization of the "dual carbon" goal.