Article No. 042/2019
On November 11th and 12th of 2019, Mr. Vithiyapathy Purushothaman represented University of Science and Technology of China at ANSO Young Scientist Forum hosted by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and The People’s Government of Zhejiang Province. It is organized by Alliance of International Science Organizations, Chinese Academy of Sciences Innovation Cooperation Center (Bangkok), Hangzhou Qiantang New Area Management Committee, Zhejiang Provincial Science and Technology Department, Department of Foreign Affairs and Science and Technology Exchange Center with Foreign Countries. The following is the speech delivered by Mr. Vithiyapathy Purushothaman at the Panel on “Young Scientists: The Potential for future”.
China’s Green Modernization:
China is leading in innovation graph and cutting-edge technologies. China’s digital economy, as well as its excellence in Alipay and Wechat, have already become a model for the developing countries. Chinese scientific innovation has a competitive streak among its own provinces. Each and every province of China is working towards implementation of its Science and Technology innovation to benefit their masses. China’s green innovation and infrastructure model has different characteristics among its provinces. My China Exploration began since Think tank delegation Visit in 2017. It is organized by the Ministry of External Affairs China. It was my first visit to Chinese cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu where I have first witnessed the green infrastructure in cities. Later in the same year, joined the University of Science and Technology of China at Hefei, Anhui for pursuing my PhD. As a part of my studies, till now, I have visited nearby counties in Anhui and further visited cities in provinces such as Henan, Hubei, Nanjing, Guangdong, Yunnan and Zhejiang. Overall, I have noticed that China takes incredible efforts in maintaining a harmonious environment. Its effort in plantation takes tremendous research and it involves technologies and manpower in plantation, monitoring and relocating the necessary plants and trees. The research team who maintains ‘Cherry Blossom Street’ at USTC has briefed that the selective plantation was analyzed and technologies were used for surveillance for maintaining the trees and plants that were cultivated around cities and remote counties.
Yes, China is going green. China has not only become a model of industrial revolution development but also it is transforming itself by its green development plans. During International Horticultural Exhibition 2019 at Beijing, President Xi Jinping said “Treat ecological environment like life”, The development model of “killing the hens for eggs” and “draining the lake for fish” is at the dead end. Notably, China’s eleventh five-year plan has achieved the most direct indicators of green development. China is purely focusing on Alternative Energy. One who travels in Chinese cities could notice the roof of each building were filled with Solar panels for producing energy. China focuses both small scale to large sectors. It is also harnessing wind energy and solar energy in mountains. Plantations along the highways were in order to reduce the pollution, the planned cultivation of plants and trees along the roadside was maintained even in remote edges of the province. Bullet train journeys are purely a marvel on the other side it reduces pollution and save the time of the travelers. During the internal flight journey in China, the window seat view always showed a glimpse of large solar farms reflecting the sunlight from the ground as well as the windmills lined up on the remote mountains. China’s space developments are directly helping for maintaining the forest cultivations and city planning as well as it is highly serving the geographical plans and location accuracy needs. During several visits to Yellow mountain county, the county representatives brief the usage of advanced technology in monitoring water purity and afforestation process that they implement. China is utilizing its innovation and technology to its fullest to achieve its green modernization.
USTC Scientific marvels:
USTC and Hefei is the home and the birthplace of China’s Artificial Sun, advanced Quantum technology communication and also the first to launch Chinese humanoid robot reporter. USTC was established by Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1958 at Beijing and then moved to Hefei in 1970. USTC is one of the most important innovation centres in China. It is ranked 3rd in mainland China by ARWU, The World University Rankings, QS and U.S. News and Nature Index in recent years. Further, it stands 80th in the World University Ranking 2020. Hefei is one of the National bases of Science and education and it is one of three comprehensive research centres of China, together with Shanghai and Beijing. Of 22 national big science facilities of China, Hefei has seven.
USTC continues to educate Science and technology for the top leaders in China. It is the only university in China that operates two national-level research labs, the National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory and Hefei national laboratory for physical sciences at the Microscale. It jointly operates two national large-scale facilities, the experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak and the Steady High Magnetic Field laboratory. The core payload of China’s Dark matter particle Explorer “Wukong” was developed by USTC research team. China’s first ultra-realistic interactive robot ‘Jia Jia’ is revealed at USTC. The World’s first Quantum Communication satellite Micius conceived by USTC scientists was launched successfully. It was first tested by placing transmitter at Hefei’s Dashu maintain and receiver at USTC and vice versa. USTC continues to carry out Quantum tests in most of the nights, it sends the laser beams that pears through the sky and appears like the University holds the sky of Hefei with its light beam. USTC builds on its strength and accomplishes excellence. In an average one out of one thousand of its graduates is elected at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) or Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) member. Over 20000 alumni of USTC is working in world-renowned institutes and business. Being in an industrial city like Hefei and in one of the top innovative university in China, it gives an immense experience and understanding of innovative scientific marvels of China.
China’s innovation Spillover at Belt and Road corridor:
China’s scientific marvels haven’t stopped there, through periodical Scientific Expeditions in its Belt and Road region, it assesses the Disaster and Risk management, combating desertification along the Silk Road as well as recording the special plants and creatures that live in the region where the Belt and road pass. China has taken steps to build a green belt in the desert and dry region to prevent the soil floods that disturbs the truck traffic. Further, it also extends the green belt to create a green atmosphere and to reduce air pollution as well as to increase the harmonious environment. As a part of the UN Development Programme, China should promote green environment along with the countries that it has cooperation with. Its innovations should not stop in developing green infrastructure rather it should further expand to build Green modernization cooperation with the countries that shed under Belt and Road.
Panel Discussion:
The panel discussion of Young Scientist: Potential for Future was Chaired by Dr. Binod Dawadi. The panellists are Prof. LIU Gang, Associate Professor Song Shuhui, Associate Professor Zhang Miao, PhD Scholar Vithiyapathy Purushothaman and Mr. Sirwan Salman.
During Panel discussion Young Scientist for the potential future, Mr. Vithiyapathy Purushothaman has briefed his analysis and recommendations. he advocated cultivating green in young minds.
It is important to educate emerging scientists to understand the side effects of our modern science. What we sow, so shall we reap. Social Media projects sorrow of humanity. It projects all the side effects of scientific advancements from plastic to the carbon and nuclear emissions. These side effects don’t stop there, it is equally affecting our day to day routines from drinking water to breathing air. Let’s reprogram the young minds from industrial revolution age to green modernization age. Its high time in this global warming age to think about controlling air pollution whereas air purification science is in high demand. Alternative energy and innovative green modernization methodologies were the need of the hour. The students should understand the importance of Science in society when they deal with their scientific research. The research should target the public. It should be directed towards rebuilding the pollution free environment. Students should be encouraged to come up with critical questions in research. Thus, the recordings of the questioners should also be evaluated by the panel for awards during the graduation. Students should be motivated to come up with an innovative alternative to come over these side effects produced in this present global warming era.
Highlights of the ANSO Forum:
During the Signing ceremony of International Science and Technology Cooperation projects, among other joint cooperation memorandums, International Joint Laboratory of Sino-India Mathematics was signed between Indian Institute of Technology and Center of Discrete Mathematics of Zhejiang Normal University to boost the engagement and cooperation. Notably, Keynote speakers of the Program are Barry Sharpless, Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry 2001. Dr Whitefield Diffie, the Chief Scientist of Cryptic Labs, Academician of National Academy of Engineering, Foreign Academician of Royal Society of England. David Y. H. Pui, Regents Professor, University of Minnesota, Director of the Particle Technology Laboratory.
About ANSO:
Alliance of International Science Organization (ANSO) is a non-profit and non-government international scientific organization founded in 2018 by 37 international science and education institutions from around the world. ANSO came into being under the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits championed by the BRI. The idea of establishing the ANSO was initially discussed at First international Science forum held in Beijing in November 2016. Its vision is to become an action-oriented international organization with global impact in catalyzing and implementing programs and initiatives in Science, Technology, Innovation and Capacity Building (STIC) for the promotion of shared development and the advancement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
(Mr. Vithiyapathy Purushothaman, Ph.D. scholar, School of Humanities and Social Science, University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Hefei, PRC, Former Research Officer, C3S; and Associate Member, C3S.)
