On the afternoon of Sept. 20, 2020, the College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering Class 2020 new semester opening ceremony was held at the academic exchange center of Lihu Campus, Shenzhen University. Ren Xiangzhong, Dean of the college, Li Cuihua, Secretary of the Party Committee, He Chuanxin, Vice Dean, Sun Ning, Vice Secretary of the Party Committee, Yang Bo, Vice Dean of the College, Li Yongliang, Vice Dean of the College, Li Xiaopeng, representative from the “Tencent founder and alumni team” and honorary professor, directors of various departments, head teachers of Class 2020, full-time teachers and counselors of the College attended the ceremony. The event was presided by Sun Ning, Vice Secretary of the Party Committee. All the 212 undergraduate freshmen and 172 postgraduate freshmen of the college attended the ceremony.

First, College Dean Ren Xiangzhong delivered a speech to the audience of Class 2020 new semester opening ceremony; and extended warm welcome to every freshman. The speech is full of erudite quotes, latest hot issues and witty remarks, which won intermittent applauses of the audience. In the speech, the Dean expressed his care for and expectations on the freshmen, and urged them to undertake the responsibility, set ambitious goals, and get ready for the mission of national rejuvenation.

Then, Li Xiaopeng, representative from the “Tencent founder and alumni team” and honorary professor, shared his experience of fighting disease and a self-attesting wonderful journey. The arduous and wonderful education process and outstanding academic achievements of Professor Li demonstrated the rich life journey of an idealist. He reminded the freshmen to do research for the sake of research instead of the expected usefulness. Prof. Li also called on the freshmen to thank the society by making contributions to the development of our nation.

Liao Dan, a postgraduate freshman representative, and Yang Gaorui, an undergraduate freshman representative, delivered their speeches respectively. They encouraged the audience to make good of every day, set appropriate targets, determine personal plans, develop personal study style, learn to live in hardship, refrain from unrestrained entertainment, and make exemplary achievements in the next four years.

Then, Secretary Li Cuihua made a closing speech. Once again, she extended welcome to the freshmen. She told some touching anti-pandemic stories, and asked the freshmen to build firm academic basis, develop professional attitude, be an active learner, and attend as many lectures as possible. For engineering students, practice is very important, therefore participation in research projects and practice activities is encouraged. All we have learned must be put into concrete practice. Through project participation and problem-solving activities, we can improve our understanding of theories, train our innovative capacity and realize faster growth. Lastly, Secretary Li urged the audience to make good use of the four years, be a better self, pursue personal accomplishments, and make outstanding academic achievements.

The ceremony was closed in a lively atmosphere. Best wishes to the freshmen of Class 2020! May their dreams come true and ambitions accomplished!

After the ceremony, lectures dedicated to postgraduate freshmen and undergraduate freshmen were held respectively.

Li Yongliang, the Vice Dean in charge of the laboratories gave a lecture on laboratory safety. He gave a brief introduction of the laboratories of the college and narrated some laboratory accidents. He put forward the safety principle of “safety takes precedence over experiments”. He also made a presentation about laboratory safety and personal protection.

He Chuanxin, the Vice Dean in charge of graduate education, introduced the faculty of the university and the college, education characteristics, frontier development, etc. He asked the postgraduate freshmen to develop rigorous scholarship style and urged the audience to work hard and make enviable achievements.

Yang Bo, the Vice Dean in charge of undergraduate education delivered a lecture concerning teaching and learning. He made a brief introduced on the specialized courses, the cautions to be taken in the new semester, the training plan, and other issues important to the freshmen. He answered the questions raised by the audience and expressed his best wishes to the newcomers of the college.