Material Industry Development and Scientific and Technological Innovation Ability Training

   At 15:00 pm on May 22, 2022, the School of Materials Science and Engineering (hereinafter referred to as the School of Materials) held the academician lecture --- “Material Industry Development and Scientific and Technological Innovation Ability Training Seminar” in the lecture hall 1F-7 of the library of Huxi Campus of Chongqing University. The lecture will be delivered by Pan Fusheng, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, chairperson of Chongqing Science and Technology Association and professor of Chongqing University. Wang Jingfeng, secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Materials, some teachers and undergraduates, totaling more than 200 people, listened to the wonderful lecture of Academician Pan Fusheng. The seminar was chaired by Chen Zejun, vice director of the School of Materials.

    Focusing on the theme of “Material Industry Development and Scientific and Technological Innovation Ability Training”, explaining the profound things in a simple way, Academician Pan Fusheng introduced the profound development situations of materials industry and how to cultivate scientific and technological innovation ability of college students from five aspects: the importance of materials industry, the mystery of materials, the advantages of China and Chongqing University in the field of materials, the cultivation and enhancement of scientific and technological innovation ability, and the reasons why magnesium alloy should be developed and applied.

    He pointed out that the material industry is the foundation of the development of the national economy and industry. Materials are very important in the development of ancient, modern and modern history, and mechanization, electrification and informatization are accompanied by the application of steel/iron, conductive materials and silicon materials in the historical development and evolution of the scientific revolution and industrial revolution. When talking about what materials will dominate the new round of scientific and technological revolution, he boldly proposed that magnesium materials and energy materials may dominate the next generation of new materials. He believes that the current development of the magnesium industry has ushered in a golden opportunity occurring only once in a thousand years. China's mineral resources are in great shortage in terms of many key resources such as iron, copper, aluminum, nickel, lithium, cobalt and other elements, while magnesium ore resources are very rich, accounting for more than 70% of the world's magnesium ore resources, and the mining period is more than 1,000 years; and magnesium alloy has very good performance potential and functional characteristics, is the metal material of the most significant lightweight effect, clean energy and green energy storage material with the most potential. Then academician Pan focused introduction on the characteristics and development potential of magnesium-based hydrogen storage materials and magnesium battery energy storage. He said that with the development of scientific research, the magnesium industry will become one of the few advanced material industries in China with industrial and technological advantages, and more material talents are needed. At the same time, academician Pan stressed that no matter how the international situation changes and how science changes, the demand for material development will maintain a strong growth rate. Taking non-ferrous metals as an example, he pointed out that the development of material industry of China involves advanced fields such as aerospace, and individual key materials in these fields still need breakthroughs; in the fields of transportation, biomedicine and industrial manufacturing, many domestic materials can replace imports and ensure the development of the national industry and economy. Academician Pan also pointed out the importance of materials in the world: “Although the international exchange of materials has been affected in recent years, materials are still a hot field of scientific research; there is a serious shortage of material talents in China, and the development of the material industry has a broad prospect”.

    In order to expand students' horizon, Academician Pan introduced a lot of new materials, involving amazing materials such as graphene, carbon nanotube, optical stealth material and acoustic stealth material, etc. He emphasized on aerogel material, which, as a solid material with density comparable to that of air, has important applications in many aspects. He mentioned that there is still a lot for us to explore in material science, it is possible to touch a stone and turn it into gold in the future.

    In terms of cultivating and improving the ability of scientific and technological innovation, academician Pan pointed out that the ability to learn knowledge is far more important than the ability to memorize knowledge, and the ability to apply knowledge is even better. He believes that it is difficult for a person who is unable to ask questions to innovate, that it is required to attach importance to contingency in order to obtain necessity, that innovative ideas often come from communication and discussion, and that reverse thinking is often a shortcut to success. Academician Pan encouraged all students to pay attention to the cultivation and improvement of material innovation ability and actively participate in scientific research.

    At the end of the lecture, academician Pan answered questions on the spot. The atmosphere of the on-site questioning session was harmonious, and the students actively asked questions, and academician Pan gave detailed answers to the students' questions.

    After the event, Chen Ruixue, a 2020 undergraduate student, said that an academician's sincere love for his research direction can be seen from the examples given by academician Pan and his own experience, the fun of studying materials can be felt from the material pictures of the microscopic world he displayed, and it can be realized from his introduction to the current development of materials that the progress of materials still requires more young talents to dedicate their talents and youth.

    This seminar not only enhanced students' knowledge of the cutting-edge field of scientific research of materials, but also inspired them to explore the future development of emerging materials. It is expected that more students will devote themselves to the strategy of “Building China into a Strong Country in Terms of Materials” in the future, and contribute their intelligence and wisdom to solve the problem of  “stranglehold” technologies for our country.