Tongji University Visit: BACK ROW (left to right): Ms Qi Lingyun (Engineer - Tongji Architectural Design (Group) Co. Ltd), Associate Professor Brian Gabbitas (Chairperson, Engineering, Waikato University), Professor Alister Jones (Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Waikato University), Associate Professor Ed Weymes (Pro Vice-Chancellor, International, Waikato University), Mr Zhou Jun (Engineer, Shanghai Tongji Joint Construction Technology Co. Ltd), and Ms Mulan Mu (Waikato University).
FRONT ROW (left to right): Professor Jiang Fuming (Vice-President Tongji University), Professor Roy Crawford (Vice-Chancellor Waikato University), and Professor Li Guangming (Director, Office of Science and Technology).
A top-level science and technology delegation from Shanghai has spent two days in Hamilton finding out more about the University of Waikato’s research into lake restoration and ecocity initiatives.
The four-person delegation from Tongji University’s College of Environmental Science and Engineering was led by the University’s Vice-President, Professor Jiang Fuming.
Key Partnership
One of Waikato’s key partner institutions, Tongji University regularly ranks within the top 25 Chinese universities. Tongji hosts the Institute of Environment for Sustainable Development in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme, which, like Waikato, has a strong research focus on water quality.
During their visit, the Tongji group had discussions with Professor Bruce Clarkson, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering; Professor David Hamilton and Professor Bob Evans.
Professor Clarkson heads Waikato’s urban ecological restoration programme, while Professor Hamilton leads the $10 million dollar LERNZ programme (Lake Ecosystem Restoration New Zealand).
Research
Pro Vice-Chancellor International Associate Professor Ed Weymes said the positive discussions revealed similar areas of research.
“In particular, the talks focussed on research both universities are conducting on a fresh water lake in China, and are likely to result in Waikato researchers visiting their Tongji counterparts in Shanghai later in the year with a view to developing joint projects,” he said.
The visitors also met with the University of Waikato Vice-Chancellor Professor Roy Crawford and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Alister Jones.