Experts Gather for Conference to Celebrate Centennial Anniversary of Chemical Engineering Discipline

On July 12, the Conference on the Development of the Chemical Engineering Discipline was held at Tianjin University (TJU) to celebrate its centennial anniversary of the chemical engineering discipline.

Tianjin University holds the Conference on the Development of the Chemical Engineering Discipline on July 12.

The event brought together academic experts, industry leaders, alumni, and representatives from all walks of life and faculty and students. Attendees included representatives from the Chinese Academy of Engineering and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation, the Chinese Chemical Society, the Chemical Industry and Engineering Society of China, the China Association for Higher Education, the Ministry of Education’s Teaching Guidance Committee, the China Chemical Safety Association, Tianjin Municipal Education Commission, Tianjin Municipal Party Committee's Education Working Committee, the Embassy of Indonesia in China, the Embassy of Malaysia in China, descendants of Professor Hou Debang, as well as over 100 domestic universities and leading chemical and energy enterprises.

Tianjin University President Chai Liyuan, Executive Vice President Hu Wenping, Executive Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Tianjin University Lei Ming, Member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee of Tianjin University and Head of the University’s Organization Department Zhao Jinduo attended the event.

At the inaugural ceremony, President Chai Liyuan, in his speech, emphasized the chemical engineering discipline’s enduring legacy of innovation and leadership, tracing its origins back to the establishment of the industrial chemistry course at Peiyang University, the predecessor of Tianjin University, and the pioneering work of Mr. Hou Debang, pioneer and founder of the Chinese modern national chemical industry. “We hope that friends from all sectors of society can continue to support the development of Tianjin University. Taking this conference as an opportunity, we look forward to working together to promote the high-quality advancement of chemical engineering discipline, cultivating more high-level leaders in the field,” said President Chai.

Li Yunpeng, Party Secretary of the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation, highlighted Tianjin University’s chemical engineering discipline’s long-standing commitment to aligning research with industrial needs, laying a solid foundation of talents and technology for China’s transition from a big chemical industry country to a strong one. He hoped that Tianjin University's chemical engineering would continue to collaborate with professionals across the nation, leveraging the advantages of industry-academia integration to provide the industry with a more powerful technological engine and talent support.

Chen Jun, Vice President of the Chinese Chemical Society and Vice President of Nankai University, stated that Tianjin University has continuously pioneered the field of chemical engineering education, becoming a solid pillar for the development of China's chemical industry and higher chemical education. He encouraged continued collaboration to promote the dissemination and advancement of chemical engineering knowledge and to write new chapters of high-quality development.

Hua Wei, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors of the Chemical Industry and Engineering Society of China, emphasized the deep-rooted connection between the society and Tianjin University’s chemical engineering discipline. He noted that among the list of 100 influential figures in 100 years of China’s chemical industry history released on the occasion of the centennial anniversary of the establishment of the society, 12 persons had studied or worked at Tianjin University, highlighting the discipline’s role in talent development system of China’s chemical industry. She stated that the society would continue to deepen cooperation with all parties to cultivate more high-quality talents to the industry.

Shan Honghong, Vice Chair of the Ministry of Education’s Teaching Guidance Committee for Chemical Engineering, acknowledged Tianjin University’s 30-year mission of leading national reforms in chemical engineering education, significantly enhancing the innovation and practical abilities of students. She expressed her hope that the discipline would continue to take the lead in the reform of emerging engineering education, serving as a global hub and a driver of new productive forces.

Gong Ke, former President of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations, delivered a video address in which he recognized Tianjin University’s forward-looking approach to engineering education and its role in shaping modern chemical engineering in China. He encouraged the discipline to deepen industry-academia integration further and to contribute to the development of a more open and socially engaged engineering education system.

Luo Yan’an, Deputy Director of the Tianjin Municipal Education Commission, praised the discipline’s alignment with national development, contributing significantly to China’s chemical industry and chemical engineering education. He hoped that Tianjin University and its chemical engineering discipline would continue to prioritize discipline development, accelerate the enhancement of capabilities in cultivating high-level talents in critically needed areas, place scientific and technological innovation at the core of overall development strategy, and continuously open up new prospects for high-quality development across the city through the university's contributions.

Yudil Chatim, Education and Cultural Counselor of the Indonesian Embassy in China, and Muhammad Sallehuddin, Education Counselor of the Malaysian Embassy in China, both highlighted the importance of the conference as a milestone for international cooperation in chemical engineering education and industry. They expressed hopes to strengthen academic and research partnerships with Tianjin University, particularly in joint research, student exchanges, and industry-academia collaboration, to support sustainable development in China.

Zhang Qiang, Director of the Department of Chemical Engineering at Tsinghua University, hoped that both parties could work closely together to build a "zero-carbon" innovation system, cultivate top-tier talents in "digital and intelligent industrialization," and collaboratively address the global challenge of "energy transition."

Fan Xiaobin, Dean of the School of Chemical Engineering and Technology at Tianjin University, delivered a keynote report on the development of chemical engineering over the past 100 years.

Representatives of alumni, faculty, and students delivered speeches, expressing their deep respect and gratitude for the discipline’s achievements and the support provided by Tianjin University and its predecessors.

At the conference, the initiative of the Chemical Engineering Industry-Academia Integration Development Consortium was officially launched by the School of Chemical Engineering and Technology of Tianjin University in collaboration with chemical engineering institutions nationwide. Strategic advisory experts were appointed.

During the conference, representatives of alumni were presented “Special Support Certificates” in recognition of their contributions.

The conference also marked the release of the documentary Chang Lu and the unveiling of the history museum of the School of Chemical Engineering and Technology.

On the afternoon of July 12, the School of Chemical Engineering and Technology of Tianjin University organized a series of events, including the Forum on the Development of Chemical Engineering Disciplines, the Forum on the University-Enterprise Collaboration, and the Alumni Forum. Over 100 guests, including scholars, experts, alumni, and representatives from chemical engineering schools of more than 100 domestic universities participated in the events.

By: Sun Xiaofang