2024 Tongji University-Kyoto University International Graduate Academic Forum Successfully Held

From August 26 to 29, 2024, the Tongji University-Kyoto University International Graduate Academic Forum was successfully held at Kyoto University, Japan. Themed "Advanced Materials and Technology for Carbon Neutrality," the forum was supported by Tongji University's Graduate Internationalization Program and the Shanghai Graduate Education Reform Project. It was hosted by Tongji University's College of Environmental Science and Engineering and co-organized by Kyoto University's Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS). A delegation of 21 faculty members and students from disciplines such as environmental science and chemistry at Tongji University participated in the event, led by Professors Wu Yinan, Gu Yifan, and Liu Yanling from the College of Environmental Science and Engineering.

The forum officially opened on the morning of August 27. Professor Susumu Kitagawa, Vice President of Kyoto University, Member of the Japan Academy, and a world-renowned inorganic chemist, delivered the opening speech. Professor Kitagawa warmly welcomed the delegation from Tongji University and highly commended the forum’s significance in fostering academic exchanges and mutual progress between the two universities. Subsequently, keynote speeches were delivered by Associate Professor Kenichi Otake, Professor Daisuke Tanaka from Kwansei Gakuin University, Dr. Jet-Sing Lee, Advisory Editor of Nature Water and Deputy Editor of Communications Materials, and Associate Professor Liu Yanling from Tongji University.

During the forum, 14 doctoral students and 3 master's students from Tongji University, along with 5 doctoral students from Kyoto University’s iCeMS, delivered 22 engaging academic presentations cantered on the globally significant topic of carbon neutrality. The presentations covered a wide range of research areas, including gas separation, catalysis, sensing, efficient pollutant removal, biochar, and microplastics.

In addition to the academic sessions, the forum included laboratory tours at Kyoto University and cultural exchange activities, providing participants with an immersive experience of Kyoto University’s rich academic atmosphere and the unique culture of the Kansai region in Japan. Participants expressed that the forum enhanced their knowledge, broadened their horizons, deepened mutual understanding, and fostered lasting friendships.