February 26 marks the first day of UCASers’ spring semester in 2024. After a brief break for the Spring Festival, ICTP-APers have gone back to school for a new semester. During the winter vocation, teachers and students have captured the beautiful scenery with their lenses and now let's take a look at their spectacular shootings. From this photo, we can see that the tree is decorated with many red lanterns because it is a custom for Chinese to adorn their doors with red couplets and colorful lantersn to enrich the festival asmosphere. This group of photo displays the beautiful scenery after snow.These two photos were taken in Macau and HK respectively, the first one is the fireworks set to celebrate the Chinese New Year and the second one is the Ferris Wheel featured by four Chinese characters “Long Lai Yun Zhuan”, which means that luck comes to you as the Year of the Dragon approaches.This photo is taken at the front gate of the Old Summer Palace, which is also known as “Yuanmingyuan”This photo is taken in Guangzhou.The Spring Festival is one of the most significant traditional celebrations in Chinese culture, marking a momentous occasion for family gatherings and shared joy. The year of 2024 is also the Year of the Dragon or Loong, therefore, the dragon rightfully takes center stage. Now, let us warmly welcome the auspicious dragon and together create a symphony of happiness for the new year.Home is where the heart is. In the 2024 Spring Festival, ICTP-APers scattered across the country, yet their hearts and hands are still connected. This traditional holiday of bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new has become a collective journey that fosters a sense of belonging, fulfillment, and happiness among the ICTP-AP community. Amidst the warmth and nostalgia, it adds new meaning and responsibility to the Dragon Year's new spring, making everyone’s heart warmer, bringing students and faculty closer, and strengthening their love for UCAS. Editor: Le Zhang, Min ZhangPhotographers: Fanzi Meng, Le Zhang, Min Zhang, Qimin Song
The 2023 Winter School on Frontier and Interdisciplinary Sciences was held from 14th January to 20th January in Yunnan Province. It was organized by the International College and the International Centre for Theoretical Physics-Asia-Pacific, and hosted by Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming Institute of Botany and Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden of CAS. Over 60 students from different institutes of CAS participated in the 6-day activity. A Journey of Interdisciplinary SciencesDuring the winter school, we have invited experts and professors from different fields, including botany, zoology, ecology, microbiology, environmental science, biochemistry and molecular biology, medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, bioinformatics, cell biology and genetics, so as to encourage students to engage in interdisciplinary scientific research and innovative exploration across different disciplines.We have also invited a professor from the Foreign Language School of Yunnan University to deliver a report on China’s national condition, enabling a valuable opportunity for international students to have a glimpse of the history, culture, music and development of China. A Journey of LifeAs one of a few areas that have tropical forests at about 20 degrees North latitude, Yunnan province is well-known for its plant diversity. Thanks to its various geographic features, Yunnan is also rich in animal resources. During this winter school, we have also arranged a field study in Fu Li Palace Greenhouses and Tea Garden at Kunming Institute of Botany, the Kunming Natural History Museum of Zoology and Xishuangbanna Tropical Forest Garden. Students were impressed by the biodiversity of Yunnan and learned a lot about the animal and plant species in those gardens and museums, inspiring them to carry out cross-disciplinary scientific research and value the importance of biodiversity to sustainable development. A Journey of CultureDuring the 6-day school, we have also brought the international students to the memorial hall of the National Southwest Associated University (SWAU). Built in Kunming during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, SWAU represented a merger of Peking University, Tsinghua University, and Nankai University as a comprehensive university. Over its eight-year tenure, the university was a gathering place of accomplished masters and renowned scholars, including Chen-Ning Yang and Tsung-Dao Lee.Walking on the quiet campus, students and teachers travelled back to the time when the students had to read in the tea house and worked hard to strive for the country’s development. Another meaningful trip took place in a socialist new village--Chengzi Village in Menglun County, Xishuangbanna. Guided by a local villager, we went into the small village, which has about 300 households. The buildings are all traditional Dai-style. Yet, instead of rammed earth and thatch, the buildings are all made of cement and bricks, which are more solid and water-proof.International students were surprised by China’s rural development and one student from Tajikistan noticed that many households have stuck the photos of President Xi on the walls and asked why. “That is because the houses used to be decrepit and Chinese government started to help them restore their houses and explore local tourism resources and bring in innovative ways to increase the income of local residents since 2012”, answered Ms Zhang, from ICTP-AP. Then she pointed at the QR-code hung up on the fruit trees grown on the side of the path and explained that visitors can pick the fruit from the tree and pay by scanning the QR-code without talking to the owner. When we came to a local household, we were invited to make local snacks with the Dai people. Students enjoyed themselves and deeply experienced China’s cultural diversity and ethnic harmony and unity. After the six-day learning and experiencing, the international students have broadened their horizons and strengthened their friendship with students from different institutes. They have also learnt more about China’s national condition and cultural diversity.
The International Centre for Theoretical Physics Asia-Pacific held the annual conference in Beijing from 25th to 26th November, 2023. The International Governing Board of ICTP-AP was held at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS) on the morning of 25th November and the director of the Bureau of Frontier Sciences and Education, CAS, Su Gang attended the conference and delivered an opening remark on behalf of Chang Jin, the President of the International Governing Board of ICTP-AP. Director Su Gang extended a warm welcome to the participants and introduced the outcomes and progress that CAS has achieved in the area of basic sciences and international exchanges and cooperation. He also emphasized that we should leverage the role that ICTP-AP has played as an international organization to promote the internationalization of CAS and expand the international influence of CAS, enhance basic research, and take a lead in international science and technology highlands.Wei-Dong Liu, director of the Bureau of International Cooperation of CAS and General Secretary of the International Governing Board, Professor Fernando Quevedo, the president of the International Science Council of ICTP-AP, Professor Ralf Kaiser, the senior coordinator of ICTP and Dr. Li Li, the senior project consultant for natural science of UNESCO in Beijing Office, the vice director of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC), Yong-Tao Zhang, Vice President of UCAS, Guo-Qiang Yang, and the director of ICTP-AP, vice academic president of UCAS, Professor Yue-Liang, Wu and representatives from the governing board attended the conference. We also invited the director of International Affairs Office of UCAS, Yong Xie and vice director of ICTP-AP, Song He to attend the conference as observers. Director Wei-Dong Liu hosted the conference and said that CAS will continue to carry out international talent exchanges, strengthen international cooperation in frontiers cross-disciplinary and large science equipment and organize activities, such as Science and Technology Training Class for BRI and Developing Countries. Vice director Yong-Tao Zhang said that NSFC is planning to set up a special division that focuses on international cooperation so as to support international organizations such as ICTP-AP and more young foreign scholars and talents to come to China to carry out scientific research and cooperation. Dr. Li Li mentioned that UNESCO is dedicated to promoting academic activities to primary and middle school students and college students in the Asia-Pacific region, and hopes that ICTP-AP would join the activity and contribute to the SDGs. The IGB deliberated on the progress report of ICTP-AP from 2019 to 2023 and its middle and long-term development plan, discussed on issues, including cooperation and exchange, talent cultivation and platform establishment, etc. The governing board also advised on the new members of the ISC and showed support towards the cooperation and exchanges of ICTP-AP at home and abroad as well as its establishment of ICTP-AP branches.The International Science Council was held on the evening of 25th November, 12 ISC members participated in the conference online or offline. Director of ICTP-AP gave a report on the scientific research progress, international and domestic academic exchanges, talent recruitment and cultivation, outreach activities of ICTP-AP. During the conference, Professor Zi-Ren Luo also introduced the latest progress of Taiji Laboratory, which is established under the support of ICTP-AP and Professor Chao-Qiang Geng talked about the School of Fundamental Physics and Mathematics of Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study (HIAS) of UCAS. Members of ISC had an in-depth discussion on the report of ICTP-AP and its development plan for the next stage and they gave many suggestions on the research direction and international cooperation as well as talent cultivation. Members of ISC also nominated the new members for ISC.ICTP-AP has held the Forum on Fundamental Physics in Yanqi Lake Campus on 26th November. Professor Fernando Quevedo, president of the ISC of ICTP-AP and Professor Kimyeong Lee, vice president of KIAS, Professor Poul Henrik Damgaard, founding and current director of Niels Bohr International Academy, and Professor Yue-Liang Wu, director of ICTP-AP have given keynote speeches. Eight young teachers from ICTP-AP and School of Fundamental Physics and Mathematics of HIAS have given academic reports on the forum. The foreign guests also visited the Yanqi Lake Campus and School History Museum during the meeting to learn more about the development history and vision of UCAS.
The last sub-forum of the Frontiers on Quanta-Cosmos Physics Forum has been successfully held in Nanjing University (Suzhou Campus) on October 24th, 2023. This event is one of the China’s IYBSSD serial activity, and it’s themed on Fundamental Physics and Quantum Century, hosted by ICTP-AP, ITP CAS, HIAS and Nanjing University. CAS academician Yue-Liang Wu, director of ICTP-AP and academic vice president of UCAS, has been devoted to the research in basic theories in gravity and hyper unified field theory. He borrowed this opportunity to send his recent publication Foundations of the Hyper-unified Field Theory to his alma mater Nanjing University. Professor Wu said that this book is the fruit of his scientific career over the past four decades after his graduation and he is very glad to express his gratitude to his alma mater with his most satisfying research outcome for the cultivation of Nanjing University.The forum is hosted by Professor Yongliang Ma from Nanjing University and Jinyan Liu from the Institute for the History of Natural Sciences, CAS. Director of the research centre for the history of science and technology from Nankai University Baichun Zhang, Professor Shiyu from University of Chinese Science and Technology, Professor Hui Liu, Vice President of the School of Physics from Nanjing University, and CAS academician Yueliang Wu from UCAS have delivered wonderful and insightful speeches at the forum, attracting thousands of viewers online and offline. At the closing ceremony, director of the ICTP-AP office, Dr. Min Zhang gave a speech to make an overview of this activity. This sub-forum marked the closure of the IYBSSD2022-2023 activity in China since its beginning in June, 2022. Over the past years, ICTP-AP has worked with Shandong University, Hunan University, Nanjing University and other partner institutes to organize and host a total of six sub forums, inviting 30 scientists to discuss on frontiers of basic science and human development. This activity has attracted 1.5 million people online and offline.
The 3rd China Space Science Assembly was unveiled on 15th October,2023 in Huzhou city, East China's Zhejiang province. The assembly is themed on “Innovation-led, data-driven, promote high-quality development of Space Science”, and scientists are exchanging views on the latest progress, major achievements and frontier trends of space science in order to promote the cross-disciplinary integration and fast development of China’s Space Science and Technology.Taiji Laboratory of Gravitational Wave Universe hosted a special forum on "Space-based Gravitational Wave Detection and Precision Measurement and Gravitational Cosmology". CAS academicians Wang Jianyu and Wu Yueliang are the conveners of the forum, and they discussed the latest research progress in the field of space gravitational waves and provided guidance on the future direction of the research in gravitational wave detection, precision measurement and gravitational cosmology.Professor Feng Longlong, Researcher Bi Xiaojun, Researcher Tong Minglei, Researcher Han Wenbiao, Professor Zhou Zebing and Professor Wu Shufan were invited to give wonderful reports at the parallel session of the space science, and more than 30 young scholars, including Wang He and Liu Jing, special research assistants of ICTP-AP, made reports on their own research work.Tong MingleiLiu JingWang He
Einstein predicted the existence of gravitational waves in 1916, and the LIGO（Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory）Collaboration announced the first direct detection of gravitational waves in human history on 11th February,2016 after a century’s exploration, which opens a new window to explore the universe. The detection of gravitational wave signals in the low and mid-frequency bands is needed in order to hear the motions of more massive objects. There are a lots of new gravitational waves sources in this band, which require the construction of space-based gravitational wave observatories. Taiji Program proposed by Chinese scientists is one of the space-based GW detection plans, which is proposed to launch three spacecrafts which will form an equilateral triangle in orbit around the Sun, with 3million kilometers length of each side, composing three sets of Michelson Interferometers.Taiji ProgramTaiji-1, as the technology verification satellite of the Taiji Program, was successfully launched on August 31, 2019, and has completed verification on key technologies, taking the first step towards China’s space-borne gravitational waves detection. The Gravity Reference Sensor (GRS), a main payload of the Taiji-1 satellite, is the endpoint and reference of the laser link of the future space-based gravitational wave detection satellite, to ensure that the test mass moves perfectly along the geodesic line, which is a prerequisite for the detection of gravitational wave signals. The inertial reference of the GRS is determined by the residual acceleration noise of its test mass, which means that the ambient noise need to be suppressed or subtracted.The calibration of the GW detection device’s core payload is a critical step in achieving the space-based GW detection. Recently, the research of calibration of the in-orbit center-of-mass of TaiJi-1 was published in Physical Review D [Phys. Rev. D 108 (2023) 082001]. Xiaotong Wei, a Ph.D. student of the class of 2020 at the International Center for Theoretical Physics-Asia-Pacific (ICTP-AP), is the first author and co-corresponding author of this paper, and his advisor, Prof. Jibo He, is the co-corresponding author as well. After calibration, the acceleration noise level of the gravitational reference sensor readout data in the medium-and-low-frequency band (0.001 to 0.1 Hz) was significantly reduced. The study was favorably reviewed by the referees of Physical Review D:“…Calibration of space-borne instruments is an important foundation for science…In general, the paper and the results are really good…”.This research was supported by the colleagues from the partner institutions of Taiji Alliance and the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)(XDA15020700, XDA15021100), as well as the Special Funds of the Fundamental Research Funds for Central Universities from the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China.Download the paper: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.108.082001Center-of-mass calibration before (red dashed line) and after (blue) GRS triaxial readout of acceleration amplitude spectrum density
The 2023 Track and Field Sports Game was held on October 13th to 14th,2023. The opening ceremony was held on the morning of 13th October and 44 square teams composed of the students and faculty of different departments and schools of UCAS presented their performances on the playground. This year, ICTP-AP made its debut at the opening ceremony with 15 faculty including professors, postdocs and administrative staff and 20 students walking in the square team. On the morning of 13th October, women's100 meter, women's 400 meter final and long jump was held. Athletes of ICTP-AP spared no effort in their games and has won prizes for the center. Dr. Yinghui Liu has won the third prize in long jump and postfoc Shuang Wang has won the champion of the 100 final, breaking the record of UCAS and Dr. Haihong Jia ranked the eighth in the long jump. What’s more, the student of ICTP-AP, Qiyan Zhang has won the champion of the 400 meters final and broke the record of UCAS. Shuang WangQiyan ZhangYinghui Liu(on the right)Haihong JiaIn the afternoon, an unexpected hailstone fall interrupted the game and the events were postponed to the night. On the second day of the game, the famous sports commentator Qiaosheng Han, a famous sports commentator was invited to the campus and broadcasted the game live and cheered for the athletes. The men’s 4×100 meters relay was held on the morning of 14th October and students team from ICTP-AP ranked the sixth. Qiaosheng Han(from the left to the right) Manjia Liang, Yuchen Zhou, Chong Lei, Yuanjie Li, Qimin Song
To celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, ICTP-AP has held a gathering party at Zhongguancun Campus, over thirty students signed up for the event and actively took part in this activity. ICTP-AP has prepared many delicate gifts for the participants, including small pouch filled with sweet Osmanthus flowers. To warm up the atmosphere, we also prepared a dozen of English and Chines riddles for the guests to solve. It’s a tradition for people to solve the riddles during Chinese festivals. When the participants are immersed in the joy of solving riddles, we handed out each participant a set of materials for painting plaster rabbit statues. Rabbit God, Tu’erye in Chinese, is a deity of Chinese folk religion unique to Beijing, where his sculptures are traditionally crafted. The fairytale rabbit descended to a plague-stricken world and healed people. For his good deed, he is commemorated with a lovely image and receive thanks every year. Therefore, worshipping Lord Rabbit has become a typical custom observed in Beijing. After hearing the story, the participants couldn’t wait to start their painting. After their brain-storming imagination, dozens of the plaster sculptures were vividly presented. Another tradition of Mid-Autumn Festival is eating mooncakes. Today, participants got the opportunity to make mooncakes by themselves. This activity helped the international students better understand Chinese traditional culture and they all felt very relaxed during the whole process, which gave them a break from the digital world and travelled back to thousand years ago to experience the romance of ancient Chinese people. Students from ICTP-AP also enjoyed this activity and they felt more connected to each other after the celebration party.
On September 6th,2023, Ms. Meng Fanzi, the media and liaison secretary of the International Centre of Theoretical Physics (ICTP-AP), UCAS and the student affair secretary Ms. Zhang Le hosted an orientation for the class of 2023 and celebrated the beginning of a new academic year. All the 14 fresh graduates attended the orientation.During this orientation, Ms. Meng first extended a warm welcome to the students on behalf of the faculty of ICTP-AP and delivered a detailed introduction of UCAS and ICTP-AP to the students from various aspects, including the development of ICTP-AP and rules and regulations of UCAS. She hoped that the students could adapt to the new environment and their new identity in their academic and daily life. She also encouraged the students to participate in the popularization of science during their spare time. After Ms. Meng’s introduction, Ms. Zhang also inspired the students to remain positive during their life, especially when they encountered any difficulty in the future. She shared a few interesting and exciting traditional events held annually on the campus and encouraged students to take part in after-class activities with friends and students from all across the country and the world. Students showed great curiosity and an enormous sense of exploration in their study and life ahead of them. Some raised question about how to become a doctoral student in the future and some asked about how to learn English well and be prepared for the application of international exchange programs, from their questions, we could see the infinite potential and hope in them. Aiming to help the students better fit in the new environment, this orientation enables students to know better about each other and ICTP-AP, and solidates their bond with each other. We wish every student well in the months to come and look forward to everything that they’ll accomplish together. Photo taken by Gao Qiyuan, a fresh student of ICTP-AP
On July 3，2023 the closing ceremony of the 2023 ICTP-AP Summer School was held successfully on Zhongguancun Campus of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences(UCAS), marking the end of this year’s summer school.On the closing ceremony, faculty including professor representatives, administrative staff and postdoc representative all showed up, with a student representative pre-recorded video being shown on the stage. At the very beginning of the ceremony, Dr. Min Zhang showed a video that recorded students’ activities over the past three days, from the opening ceremony on the evening of June 30 to the last day’s visit on Yanqi Campus. On the first two days, students enjoyed an academic feast characterized by 10 lectures given by professors of UCAS, including a CAS academician, Professor Yue-Liang Wu, who is also the director of the ICTP-AP. Lecture given by CAS academician Yue-Liang Wu via videoThese two days also witnessed heated discussions between teachers and students, which inspired the students and provided a valuable experience for them to talk to the distinguished professors and peers from across the country face to face. At the end of the video was their last day’s visits to places including the Museum of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Two Bombs and One Satellite, the history Museum of UCAS on Yanqi Lake Campus of UCAS, which helps the students better understand the “huge campus” atmosphere and the history and development of UCAS. Students at the Museum of CAS and Two Bombs and One SatelliteStudents at the History Museum of UCASAfter a brief break on the campus, students then visited the National Space Science Center (NSSC) and went to the lab of the Institute of Mechanics,CAS. This special experience allowed Students to learn more about our country’s rapid development in space science and knew more about the significance of gravitational wave exploration. Students going into the Lab of the Institute of Mechanics, CASAfter watching the video, Professor Jun Zhang, as the professor representative of ICTP-AP, delivered a brief speech to the students and extended warm thanks to all the participants and organizers of this event. And then, Yuxin Liu, a doctoral student of ICTP-AP who is currently exchanging abroad, shared his experience about the advantages of studying in UCAS and how grateful he is as a student of ICTP-AP. He also encouraged the fellow students to work hard and pursue their dream in scientific studies and research.To help the students to learn more about Taiji Space Program, the post-doctoral He Wang also gave a brief introduction of his scientific work at ICTP-AP. After Dr. Wang’s speech comes the most unique and interesting part of the ceremony. Students who have been divided into four groups on the opening ceremony gave vivid and elaborate preseantations on their topics. Professors present said that the students have done a great job, and they also commented on their reports and shared their own insights respectively, which helped students to learn the strengths and shortcomings of their own work. Professor Tian commented that this is the most special and unique closing ceremony of summer school that he has ever been to, which is a huge encouragement to all the participants of this event. Closing CeremonyAfter the professors’ hard-hitting and professional comments, two groups won the prizes, which are the cultural and creative souvenirs of ICTP-AP, for their excellent group performance. Dr Min said that this is to encourage students to work hard and value the spirits of team work. Then comes to the most exciting part that the students are waiting for, that is to reveal the final 19 Students of Excellence.With the end of the closing ceremony, this year’s ICTP-AP summer school also came to a period, yet this special memory during the past four days will be carried by every participant. It provided students from universities across the country with a great opportunity to know about each other, talk with each other and most importantly, to have academic exchanges with the professors in the field of the advanced scientific research and to experience the study and life at ICTP-AP, UCAS in an immersive way.
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