Fourth Academic Committee Meeting of the Yangtze River Water Environment Key Laboratory Successfully Held

From April 10 to 11, 2024, the second meeting of the Fourth Academic Committee of the Yangtze River Water Environment Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education was successfully held in Shanghai. The meeting brought together 14 academic committee members, including Academicians Yang Zhifeng, Xu Zuxin, and Yu Gang; Wu Guangming, Vice Chairman of Tongji University Council; Yang Hua, Deputy Director of the Research Management Office; Xu Bin, Chairman of the College of Environmental Science and Engineering Council; Wang Zhiwei, Dean of the College; and over 40 laboratory leadership members and key faculty.

The opening ceremony was hosted by Yang Hua and Wu Guangming delivering a welcome speech on behalf of Tongji University. Wu expressed heartfelt gratitude to the experts for their longstanding support of Tongji University and the Yangtze River Water Environment Key Laboratory. He highlighted that the laboratory began its forward-looking research on major water environment issues in the Yangtze River Basin two decades ago, spearheading the establishment of an alliance among universities along the Yangtze River to jointly promote green development in the Yangtze River Economic Belt.

The academic committee meeting was presided over by its Chair, Academician Yang Zhifeng. Professor Wang Zhiwei, Director of the laboratory, presented the 2023 progress report, detailing advancements in team building, scientific research, technology transfer, talent cultivation, social contributions, and the laboratory’s open management and operations. Professors Lin Sijie and Wang Rui delivered academic reports titled “Interaction Mechanisms and Combined Toxic Effects of Nanoparticle Pollutants and Microorganisms” and “Mercury Bioaccumulation in Aquatic Ecosystems,” respectively.

Committee members commended the laboratory’s achievements over the past year in scientific research, technology transfer, talent cultivation, and social impact. They provided valuable suggestions for its future development, emphasizing the need for optimized research directions, win-win collaborations, effective knowledge transfer, and enhanced societal services. The committee also reviewed and approved the laboratory’s open research projects for 2023.In conclusion, Director Wang Zhiwei expressed gratitude for the constructive feedback from the committee members. He pledged to incorporate their suggestions into the laboratory's plans, leveraging its unique strengths and characteristics to effectively drive the lab’s key initiatives for 2024.