Amidst the gentle fall breeze and the subtle chill of autumn, a lively atmosphere filled room B510 in the Qinling Building at Lanzhou University. On September 4th, Academician Qin Dahe of the Chinese Academy of Sciences delivered a lecture on "Introduction to Cryosphere Science" to the 2021 undergraduate students of our university.
During the lecture, Academician Qin elaborated on the concepts and research scope of the cryosphere and cryospheric science, the relationship between the cryosphere and the climate system, the role of cryospheric science in economic and social development, and its connection to geopolitics. Academician Qin stressed the importance of systematic learning from three aspects: basic knowledge, fundamental concepts, and essential skills. He emphasized the need to integrate theory and practice, laying a solid foundation for future scientific research endeavors.
Academician Qin underscored that against the backdrop of global climate warming, the cryosphere is undergoing rapid and extensive retreat, resulting in various disasters and extreme events. He encouraged students to deeply contemplate the underlying reasons for these changes and their impacts on the natural world and human society. He urged them to stay informed about the forefront of cryospheric science. Furthermore, Academician Qin advised students to excel in English language skills and use specialized cryospheric science terminology accurately. He fostered interaction and discussion among students in the classroom through listening quizzes, reading corrections, and student representatives' speeches. After Professor Mu Cuicui organized group discussions to further consolidate the students' understanding of the course content, representatives from each group shared their insights. They received praise from Academician Qin, motivating them to strive for excellence. This course enriched students' understanding of cryospheric science and ignited their interest in the field, leaving a lasting impact.
Rapporteur Profile:
Academician Qin Dahe is a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a member of the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World. He served as the former Director of the China Meteorological Administration and Vice Chairman of the China Association for Science and Technology. Currently, he is the Director of the Academic Committee of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the President of the Asian Geographical Society. He has been engaged in research on the cryosphere, climate change, and sustainable development for a long time. Academician Qin participated in and led the preparation of the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Assessment Reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and led the assessment reports on climate and environment in China, as well as extreme weather events and disaster risk management in China. He has made significant contributions to the development of climate change science. He has received multiple awards, including the Second Prize of the National Natural Science Award in 2014, the National Excellent Textbook (Higher Education Category) Special Award in 2021, and the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2021-2022 Influential Chinese Worldwide Gala. He has received the highest awards on a global scale three times, namely the International Meteorological Organization Award in 2008, the Volvo Environment Prize in the field of environmental science in 2013, and the Highest Honorary Award of the International Geographical Union (IGU) in 2022 for contributions to international geography and environmental science.
