Successful Convening of the Yangtze River Delta Urban Water Supply and Water Environment Management Key Laboratory Academic Committee Meeting

On the December 17, 2024, the second session of the first Academic Committee of the Yangtze River Delta Urban Water Supply, Water Saving, and Water Environment Management Key Laboratory (in preparation) was successfully held at Tongji University in a hybrid format. Academician Xu Zuxin, Honorary Chair, and Academician Tang Hongwu, Chair, presided over the meeting, accompanied by Professor Hu Hongying, Vice Chair and other committee members. Tong Xiaohua, Vice President of Tongji University and Wang Hongming, Director from the Science and Technology Department of the Ministry of Water Resources delivered speeches.

Prof. Tong emphasized that the key laboratory, hosted by Tongji University, serves as a critical base for national water conservancy innovation and a vital component of China's science and technology innovation system. He highlighted its role in fostering high-level research and talent cultivation in water resources technology and expressed hopes that the meeting would solidify the laboratory’s positioning and developmental direction.

Wang commended the laboratory's contributions since its inception, particularly in water resource conservation, water environment improvement, and water ecology management. He offered key suggestions as the laboratory approaches the end of its preparatory phase, emphasizing the need for goal orientation, strategic planning, and thorough preparation for its formal evaluation.

Professor Xu Bin, Director of the Laboratory, presented a detailed report on its 2023-2024 achievements, covering laboratory operations, progress, representative research outcomes, and future plans. Committee members acknowledged the laboratory’s contributions to talent development, significant research outcomes, and national strategy support. They provided constructive feedback on research directions, operational mechanisms, and future planning. The meeting concluded with summaries and forward-looking remarks from Academicians Xu Zuxin and Tang Hongwu.