On April 10, a delegation led by University of Cambridge Academician David Cardwell visited Hohai University (HHU). HHU Vice President Wu Feng attended the symposium.
Wu expressed the hope that this visit would serve as a new starting point. Leveraging the unique platform advantages of the Cambridge University - Nanjing Centre of Technology and Innovation (CUNJC), the visit aims to further expand pragmatic cooperation in areas such as faculty and student exchanges, joint scientific research, platform co-development, and project collaboration. By focusing on strong partnerships in advantageous fields like water resources, new materials, new energy, and water environment, the collaboration seeks to yield more innovative achievements with international impact and jointly promote the high-quality development of higher education and academic research.
Academician David Cardwell introduced the University of Cambridge's collegiate system and its "bottom-up" model for scientific research collaboration. He suggested utilizing the CUNJC and starting with cooperation between researchers to focus on key areas for facilitating precise alignment and collaborative innovation. He also encouraged students from HHU to conduct research in the UK through means such as academic visits and expressed full support for long-term cooperation and joint research initiatives between faculty from both universities.
Academician David Cardwell also delivered an academic lecture titled "Bulk Superconductor: Revolution or Red Herring". In his presentation, he introduced the unique properties, fabrication techniques, and engineering application potential of high-temperature bulk superconductors discovered in 1987 with accessible, non-mathematical language. He highlighted the transformative value of these materials in fields such as frictionless bearings, energy storage systems, magnetic resonance imaging, and high-field permanent magnets, while also providing an objective analysis of the current challenges and prospects in the field.
During the visit, Academician David Cardwell and his delegation toured the Innovation Support Center for Key Materials in Water Engineering Safety and Water Environment Governance at HHU. They inspected the layout of the center's research platforms, the operation of high-end instruments and equipment, and the display of scientific achievements. The delegation gained a detailed understanding of the center's progress in the research, development, and application of technologies related to water engineering safety protection materials, functional materials for water environment governance, and the enhancement of durability in hydraulic engineering structures.
Heads of HHU's relevant colleges and departments, along with representatives from related enterprises, attended the symposium.
