On the morning of January 8, 2024, the 2022-2023 Academic Committee and expett meeting of National Centre for International Research of Green Buildings and Built Environments relying on Chongqing University was successfully held in Chongqing.
The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format, incorporating both online and offline modes. Academician Zhou Xuhong, academic leader of the Centre and director of the academic committee; Li Jian, vice president of Chongqing University; Li Yuanwen, deputy director of the Strategic Planning Department of Chongqing Science and Technology Bureau; Professor Li Baizhan, director of the National Centre for International Research of Low-carbon & Green Buildings (MOST); and Professor Yao Runming, director of the Joint International Research Lab of Green Buildings & Built Environments (MOE), attended the meeting. Academician Jiang Yi, deputy director of the Academic Committee, and committee members Academician Liu Jiaping, Academician Nie Jianguo, Academician Cui Kai, Academician Zheng Jianlong, Academician Miao Changwen, Academician Yue Qingrui, Academician Peng Yongzhen, and Academician Wu Zhiqiang, along with Professor Mao Zhibing of China Construction Group, Professor Wang QingQin of China Academy of Building Research, Professor Da Liangjun from East China Normal University, and Professor Hiroshi Yoshino of Tohoku University, academician of Japanese Academy of engineering, participated in the meeting via online video. Other attendees presented in person included Professor Yu Zhiwu from Central South University, Professor Lin Borong from Tsinghua University, Professor-level senior engineer Meng Chong from the China Academy of Building Research, Professor Lyu Shilei from Tianjin University, Professor Xu Xinhua from Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Professor Tim Broyd fromUniversity College London, Professor Christopher Pain and Senior Researcher Fangxin Fang from Imperial College London, Professor Prashant Kumar from the University of Surrey, Manager Katherine Roberts from the University of Cambridge, Professor Darren Woolf from Wirth Research, Director Anastasia Mylona from the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE), Associate Professor Eugene Mohareb from the University of Reading, Deputy Dean Xie Hui from the Institute of Scientific Research and Development at Chongqing University, Deputy Director Yang Bo from the Office of International Affairs, Party Secretary Hua Jianmin, Dean Yang Qingshan, Deputy Dean Wang Yuhang from the School of Civil Engineering, along with other deputy directors of the Centre, associate directors of research institutes, and research staff.
The opening of the meeting was chaired by Prof. Yao Runming. She introduced the attending guests, extended a warm welcome to the participating experts, and expressed gratitude for their longstanding support and guidance to Chongqing University and the Centre.
On behalf of Chongqing University, Li Jian expressed gratitude to the domestic and international experts for their participation. Subsequently, he provided an overview of the Centre and its developmental journey, emphasizing the achievements made in scientific research, talent cultivation, and international exchanges aligned with the national “dual-carbon” green objectives. He emphasized the significant contributions these achievements have made to disciplines such as civil engineering and environmental engineering, playing a crucial role in advancing the Double First-Class Initiative of Chongqing University. Li Jian concluded by expressing earnest hopes for the continued improvement and development of the Centre and extended best wishes for the successful outcome of the meeting.
Li Yuanwen expressed gratitude for the Centre’s support of the international scientific and technological cooperation in Chongqing. He hoped that the Centre would continue to play a leading and exemplary role as an international science and technology cooperation centre, fostering extensive technical exchanges and the transformation of outcomes. This, in turn, would further enhance Chongqing’s role in advancing science and technology cooperation within “the Belt and Road” initiative.
Professor Alan Short from the University of Cambridge, Professor Stuart Green from the University of Reading, and Professor Andrew Baldwin from Loughborough University, representing overseas collaborating institutions of the Centre, delivered speeches via video. They reviewed the developmental journey of international cooperation with the Base, highly commending the achievements in scientific research, talent development, and international collaboration. They extended blessings and expectations for the future development of the Centre.
The working meeting was chaired by Academician Zhou Xuhong. Professor Li Baizhan, representing the Centre, first provided a detailed work report on the Base’s overall development, scientific research and academic influence, team construction and talent development, operational management, and platform construction. He particularly elaborated on the Centre's work plan and arrangements for the next year.
The attending academicians and experts highly praised the achievements of theCentre. They acknowledged that the Centre, through scientific research in major research projects and international cooperative exchanges, team construction, internationalized teaching, talent development, base management, and institutional construction, has led the discipline development of civil engineering and environmental disciplines, and significantly promoted the construction of world-class disciplines. Suggestions were made for the Centre to further enhance interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary collaboration, aligning with the essence of green building and human settlement environment development. They recommended strengthening collaboration in emerging areas such as the entire life cycle of buildings, digital twinning, big data and artificial intelligence, smart cities, and smart energy, considering the current status and demands of social and economic development. Additionally, they advised increasing cooperation with domestic and foreign universities and industrial sectors, facilitating the transformation and application of outcomes. It was emphasized to actively leverage the Centre platform in the construction and leadership of “the Belt and Road” initiative, striving for better results during the “14th Five-Year Plan” period and planning for development in the “15th Five-Year Plan” with clear objectives and strategies.
Academician Zhou Xuhong concluded the meeting, expressing gratitude for the high recognition of the work of the Centre and the positive suggestions provided by the experts for future endeavors. He assured that the Centre would carefully review the expert opinions, engage in in-depth discussions, and implement each suggestion systematically. He also shared expectations for the development of the Centre. Faced with the increasingly complex international situation and the background of climate change and low-carbon transformation, he hoped for even closer collaboration among the partners of the Centre. The goal is to transform the Centre into a top-notch international cooperation platform that serves the international community, meets national needs, and supports the development of the industry and regions.
