On Sep 16, which coincides with the 115th founding anniversary of Lanzhou University (LZU), the China-UK Carbon Neutrality Innovation Forum was held in Lanzhou. The event was hosted by LZU and jointly organized by Southeast University (SEU), the University of Leeds (UoL), and Queen's University Belfast (QUB). Under the themes of "Energy, Transportation, Comparison and Dialogue on China-UK Carbon Neutrality Policies, and Manufacturing," it brought together over 50 esteemed academic experts and business leaders from more than 20 universities and research institutions in China and the UK. It featured 19 presentations aimed at exploring the global perspective and practical strategies for carbon neutrality from multiple dimensions and in depth.

The opening ceremony

YAN Chunhua, president of LZU and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, QIU Haibo, vice president of SEU, and YU Jian, fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, separately addressed the opening ceremony. Zhang Baojun, director general of Foreign Affair's Office of the People's Government of Gansu Province, and Zeng Huahui, deputy director-general of Education Department of Gansu province, also attended the ceremony. CHEN Ximeng, vice president of LZU, hosted the opening ceremony and the morning forum and WANG Wei, vice president of LZU, hosted the afternoon forum and the closing ceremony.

YAN Chunhua delivers an address

In his speech, YAN stated that LZU, as an institution with a profound academic heritage, not only bears the weight of history but also shoulders the important mission of leading future technological development. In light of the global focus on carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals, LZU will leverage its research capabilities in chemistry, informatics, engineering, and materials science to promote interdisciplinary integration and become a key player in advancing carbon neutrality research, contributing "the LZU approach" to deal with global climate change and achieve sustainable development.

QIU Haibo delivers a speech

QIU delivered his speech online, noting that both China and the UK play crucial roles in addressing the challenges of global climate change. Both countries are committed to adopting innovative and transformative measures to drive the world toward a sustainable future. In this context, the forum is of great significance. He advocated collaboration between Chinese and British universities to focus on major issues related to the development of human society such as carbon neutrality, thereby shaping a new landscape for international education and research.

YU Jian addresses the event

YU Jian noted that the forum is significant for promoting collaboration between Chinese and British universities through technological innovation, policy leadership, and international cooperation as the participants jointly explored a new path for low-carbon transition and green development.

CHEN Ximeng hosts the opening ceremony

Experts deliver speeches

During the forum, YU Jian delivered two reports under the theme of "Current Opportunities in Multi-Vector Digital Twins," discussing the applications of multi-vector digital twin technology in industrial upgrading, urban development, and healthcare. In the session of Energy, JAING Lin, professor at the University of Liverpool (UOL), shared insights on the importance of green hydrogen system in promoting China's energy structure transition and upgrading. TU Xin, also professor at UOL, focused on the development and promotion of plasma electrification technology from the perspective of discipline construction. LIN Jie, assistant professor at QUB, presented unique ideas on achieving carbon neutrality from a thermal method for battery diagnostics professionally. ZHANG Tongtong, assistant professor at the University of Birmingham (UoB), discussed significant advancements in liquid air energy storage technology toward achieving net-zero emission goals. LIU Yue, postdoctoral fellow at the Bank of Tianjin Research Station, introduced the practical challenges associated with China's response to climate change and low-carbon pathways based on his own experiences. Timothy A. Coombs, professor at the University of Cambridge, discussed the transition from high temperature superconductor theory to practice, highlighting its future role in achieving carbon neutrality.

The forum

WANG Wei hosts the closing ceremony

In the closing ceremony, DING Yulong, academician of the Royal Academy of Engineering and professor at UoB, delivered a report titled "Medium and Long Duration Energy Storage for Carbon Neutrality-Challenges and Opportunities," outlining the vast development prospects of carbon neutrality from various perspectives. In the session about transportation, Tian Zhongbei, assistant professor at UoB, elaborated on the prospects of applying renewable energy in highway and railway transport. LI Tiezhu, professor at SEU's School of Transportation, vividly demonstrated research on intelligent identification and prediction methods for high-emission road vehicles, emphasizing green travel solutions of human-vehicle collaborative emission reduction. LI Tang, associate researcher at Imperial College London, shared feasible paths for carbon reduction with emerging technologies in the transport sector. LI Kang, professor at the UoL, discussed the challenges, solutions, and promising future of achieving net-zero carbon in railway and power networks, also detailing the extensive application prospects of machine learning and FGB sensor-based battery management technology. SUN Li, assistant professor at Cardiff University, highlighted the significant role of big data on the post-hazard emergency responses of road networks. ZHANG Xiaoping, fellow of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and professor at UoB, emphasized the crucial role of wind power in achieving China's carbon neutrality goals.

Experts give speeches

In the session on Comparison and Dialogue on China-UK Carbon Neutrality Policies, SONG Jian, assistant professor at UoB, showcased the prospects of applying advanced solar technology. Furbe Lama, doctor at LZU's School of Ecology, focused on the progress made in Nepal towards achieving carbon neutrality goals. In the session about Manufacturing, SHI Feng, professor at the Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, presented practical pathways to support carbon neutrality in chemical production sector. XI Pinxian, professor at LZU's College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, detailed the chemical manufacturing processes of rare earth interfacial materials for water electrolysis and their broad application prospects. WU Jianzhong, IEEE Fellow and professor at Cardiff University, provided an in-depth overview of the UK's carbon neutrality policies and the technological support required.

This forum not only deepened the understanding of shared responsibilities in addressing global climate challenges among higher education institutions in China and the UK but also successfully established a multi-dimensional cooperation platform covering policy dialogue, technological innovation, and market mechanisms. This marks not just a starting point, but a solid step forward for the two countries in the joint journey toward carbon neutrality, with hopes for more practical cooperation outcomes that will lead to a new chapter in global green sustainable development.

Group photo of the event

【News Background】

This forum was not only the first international conference hosted by LZU to focus on "carbon neutrality," but also an important attempt to deepen international academic exchanges and cooperation. Invited by SEU, LZU has begun collaborations with British universities under the framework of the "UK-China University Consortium on Engineering Education and Research," marking a significant step in research cooperation between LZU and top British institutions as well as a model for in-depth cooperation in building a scientific research highland between LZU and SEU. The forum provided a valuable platform for faculty and students of relevant disciplines at LZU to engage in direct dialogues with international frontiers and exchange ideas on carbon neutrality. It also built bridges for collaboration with top experts both domestical and international, promoting deep integration of academic resources and precise alignment of research projects, injecting new vitality and opportunities into future academic research and industrial development.