USTC Workshop on Strategic Development of Energy Science and Technology Held in Beijing

USTC held a workshop on the strategic development of energy science and technology in Beijing on April 2, 2009. Twenty-eight well-known Chinese energy experts, including 11 academicians of CAS, and leading officials of the Chinese government departments concerned participated in the workshop, with Li Jinghai, CAS vice president and academician, delivering the keynote speech. The workshop was chaired by Xu Jianzhong, academician of CAS, of the Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, CAS. Hou Jianguo, USTC president, Zhu Changfei, assistant to the president, and some 30 first-line energy researchers and young teachers also attended the workshop.

In his welcome speech, President Hou Jianguo first recalled the expectations expressed by Hu Jintao, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, in his congratulatory message to USTC on its 50th anniversary USTC should aim at the frontiers of science and technology in the world, serve the nation's development strategy, foster teaching and research creatively, and strive to become a world-class research university. Hou said that USTC faculty and students have been brainstorming in order to make effective development plans in accordance with Secretary Hu's instructions. Energy is a major strategic need of the country and enhancement of the ability for scientific and technological innovation related to energy is important to national security as well as to social and economic development. USTC is determined to make a major contribution to China's energy development. At present, USTC has considerable strengths in research on fossil energy, renewable energy, nuclear energy, energy conservation, and emission reductions; however, its research efforts are relatively scattered without active involvement in major national projects or support from a relevant scientific and technological platform. Hou hoped that this workshop would be an opportunity for USTC faculty to gain new ideas and information and also for the experts present to provide advice for USTC's energy-related programs as well as energy research planning.

Four invited energy experts spoke on the current energy situation and policy, clean and effective application of coal, low-carbon energy, and intelligent energy. Ni Weidou, academician of CAS, of the Tsinghua University, made a report entitled "a multi-production system with the gasification of coal at its core". Yan Luguang, academician of CAS, of the Institute of Electrical Engineering, CAS, made a report entitled "building China's sustainable energy system and developing new technology for electrical power". The report by Zhou Fengqi, research fellow of the Energy Research Institute of the State Development and Reform Commission, focused on "low-carbon energy and energy science and technology". Han Xiaoping, chief information officer of the China Energy Net, delivered his study on "the challenges from intelligent energy".

Participants in the workshop had a productive discussion on USTC's development strategy for energy science and technology. The experts were of the opinion that USTC has several advantages for innovation in the field of energy but is weak in systemic research in energy engineering. They expressed their hope that USTC would promote well-organized, substantial studies by pursuing issues related to the nation's strategic needs and engaging in major areas of energy research.

When summarizing the workshop, Academician Xu Jianzhong put forward a number of recommendations for USTC: Strengthen proactive and strategic research, step up its fact-finding efforts and continue to sponsor workshops, better define its main areas of study by following the principle of "bringing one's strengths into full play while refraining from doing too much", collaborate closely with relevant CAS institutes by fully utilizing CAS resources and implementing effective internal restructuring and integration, and foster unique high-caliber research programs in a short period of time.

In the wake of this workshop, USTC will deepen its surveys and studies, sharpen its research directions, strengthen its faculty, and improve its planning to further promote its innovation and development of energy science and technology.