On the evening of November 16, the 8th High Table Dinner was held in the Multifunctional Hall. Professor HE Lianzhen, being a Member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee, the Vice President of Zhejiang University, and the Secretary of the Party Committee of the International Campus, attended and announced the opening of the 8th High Table Dinner. The dinner was also attended by James Michael Whelan who is a member of the Australian Academy of Sciences, leaders of some sister faculties of Zhejiang University, members of the International Campus Party and Government Team, leaders of the school unit, and representatives of teachers and students of Chu Kochen Honors College. The High Table Dinner was hosted by the President of the Residential College, Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, Fellow of the Royal Society of Great Britain, Foreign Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Lap-Chee Tsui, the Foreign Member of the American Academy of Sciences.
The lively background music cheered up the mood in the hall while guests started to stream into the venue gradually. Finally, the bell of the high table rang officially. Lap-Chee Tsui extended a warm welcome to all students, faculty, and guests present. He mentioned that the high-table dinner isn’t merely a dinner served with sumptuous food for the students and teachers, instead, it serves as a platform for interactions and to form friendships, exchanging ideas, and expanding one’s horizons. With this, he hopes that students will get a broader perspective on life. Lap-Chee Tsui presented a certificate to the Honorary guest of this year’s High Table Dinner, Professor Sun Ren, an internationally renowned virologist, a Chair Professor of Westlake University and the Director of Emergency Medicine Research Center.
“Go out, Go far, Go high.” Sun Ren introduced his research and development work in the analysis of viral genomes and the development of vaccines focusing on emerging infectious diseases such as Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia. He also highlighted his personal hobby of hiking and climbing, stating that "exercising is the process of shaping the one’s mind and self". He further shared three keywords: “Be Open-minded”, “Be Optimistic”, and “Be Happy”, and encouraged the students to embrace nature, broaden their horizons, stay optimistic and pursue happiness.
After graduating from Fudan University in 1986, Sun Ren went to the United States to study under George Miller, a student of the "Father of Modern Vaccines" and Nobel Prize winner, John F. Enders, at Yale University. He has been a Distinguished Professor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and a Chair Professor at the University of Hong Kong and has made several important achievements in the fields of Virus Replication Mechanisms and Vaccine Development and Design.
For the very first time, the Chinese and foreign students, as well as the faculty from the International Campus and Chu Kochen Honors College, attended the High Table Dinner together. Within the pleasant environment, both teachers and students continued to exchange in-depth topics such as interdisciplinary and cultural life.
In the afternoon of the same day, the International Campus and Chu Kochen Honors College signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Strengthening Student Training Cooperation between Zhejiang University International Campus and Chu Kochen Honors College. The two sides exchanged views on the cultivation of high-level international cross-innovation for outstanding talents and will continue to strengthen cooperation in student research and practical training and international exchanges and other aspects.
Editing: GUO Jiyao, SUN Xiaolei
Editing in charge: XUE Qian
Translation: XU Zhe