Amid the spring breeze and sunshine, Distinguished Professor Dan Shechtman of the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, the 2011 Nobel Prize winner in chemistry, visited Guangdong Technion – Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT) on April 10.

The vibrant GTIIT campus took his memory back to ten years ago. In May 2014, Prof. Dan Shechtman visited Shantou for academic exchanges. At that time, GTIIT was still in the planning stage. Now, the university has constructed both the North and South campuses, cultivated three cohorts of graduates, and achieved fruitful results in teaching and research. As one of the main leaders establishing GTIIT at the early stage, he actively planned its development and won support from various sides, making significant contributions to the university. Returning after ten years, he was filled with a deep sense of sentiment.

In the discussion with the leaders of GTIIT, Prof. Dan Shechtman gained a further understanding of the university in teaching and scientific research, carefully inquired about the scale of teachers and students as well as its campus construction progress, and spoke highly of the comfortable campus environment. "GTIIT students are so lucky to learn knowledge and conduct scientific research in such a good place!"

Prof. Gong Xingao, Chancellor of GTIIT presented a souvenir to Prof. Dan Shechtman 

During the visit, Prof. Dan Shechtman visited the GTIIT Dielectric and Electrochemical Lab, Materials Under Extreme Conditions Lab, Soft Wearables Lab, Food Sustainabiome Lab and Electron Microscope Lab, to learn more about the university's advanced experimental facilities, and to communicate with members of the laboratories about their scientific research projects.

Zhang Zongman, a GTIIT doctoral student, excitedly presented the article he had published in an academic journal as the first author to Prof. Dan Shechtman. "Supervised by Associate Professor Yan Wang, our team developed a 10-micrometer thick, ultra-thin, robust, breathable hydrogel for long-term ECG monitoring, overcoming traditional skin electrodes' issues of bulkiness, non-breathability, and dehydration." Liang Yancui, a postgraduate student at GTIIT, introduced her current research project on "Synthesis of new biodegradable plastics for agricultural mulch film" to Prof. Dan Shechtman. "We hope to replace the non-biodegradable polyethylene mulch film, which is now widely used, at a low cost to benefit the development of sustainable and green agriculture." Prof. Dan Shechtman listened intently and noted the students were doing very useful research that should be insisted on. He encouraged the students to maintain their enthusiasm for scientific research and strive to grow into scientists.

"Seize the chance, do what you love, and try to be the No.1 in your field." Prof. Dan Shechtman kindly shared his life journey with GTIIT faculty representatives, such as his teenage dream, school experiences and stories associated with scientific research.

"I am happy to see the great progress the university has made since I helped establishing it. The Guangdong Technion has now fifteen hundred students, impressive campus and active professional professors and research staff. I wish Guangdong Technion University great success, educating talented graduates for the building of China."

Prof. Dan Shechtman expressed his wishes to GTIIT

Tonight, Prof. Dan Shechtman will deliver a lecture at GTIIT, sharing his experience on innovative education and his path towards Nobel Prize. More campus activities are coming! Let's look forward! 

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Text/Photos: GTIIT News & Public Affairs