Jianghan University has thoroughly implemented a strategy that integrates science and education, with a dual focus on disseminating scientific knowledge and driving technological innovation. This approach is centered on a holistic development model that encompasses education, science, and talent development. By leveraging the strengths of its scientific platforms, the university attracts top talents, seizes the first source of innovation, and unites teams of innovators, ensuring synchronized progress in both scientific research and outreach.
First, the university has refined the scientific innovation mechanism that emphasizes high-quality outcomes, leading to significant success in technological innovation. In its commitment to strengthening organized scientific research, the university has overhauled its research service management system. This strategic revamp prioritizes three key areas: The recruitment of top-tier talents, the development of advanced research platforms, and the delivery of top-notch research results. These focused efforts have greatly boosted innovation and accelerated the advancement of scientific and technological innovation.
Jianghan University has recruited the entire team led by Academician Xie Xianqi on a full-time basis, to optimize the selection of overseas talents and high-level professionals to form a robust research group, supporting the construction of high-level platforms. The project has achieved a “zero” breakthrough at the construction of national level research platform, with the approval to establish the National Key Laboratory for Precision Blasting, with a joint initiative between provincial and ministerial authorities. The university has also obtained approval for 26 ministerial and provincial platforms, including the Public R&D Center for DNA Fingerprinting Identification of Biological Resources in Central China under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hubei Province Key Laboratory for Cognitive and Affective Disorders, Hubei Province Engineering Research Center for Surface and Interface Regulation Technology and Equipment of New Energy Materials, and the International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Sustainable Chemical Photoelectric Materials. These platforms span across national, ministerial, and provincial levels, covering a broad spectrum of basic and applied research, technology transfer and commercialization, and international scientific cooperation, thus making the innovation platform system more comprehensive.
The number of research grants approved by the National Natural Science Foundation and Hubei Provincial Natural Science Foundation has significantly increased, with individual project funding exceeding 14 million yuan. There have been breakthroughs in projects funded by the National Key R&D Program of China and the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Key R&D Program. The university’s iconic outputs have emerged from scratch, with a series of high-quality publications in top international journals such as Cell, Energy & Environmental Science, and PNAS.
The University has won the first prize for one provincial scientific and technological progress, five second prizes, and four third prizes. Additionally, it has received a second prize for one provincial development research and two third prizes, as well as a grand prize and two first prizes from industry associations. The disciplines of environmental science, materials science, chemistry, clinical medicine, and engineering have entered the top 1% globally in the ESI rankings. The university has also been granted approval for the establishment of a doctoral program and a post-doctoral mobile station in Chemical Engineering and Technology.
Outstanding undergraduates like Tian Guangmei and Zhang Manxue have successfully been admitted to graduate programs at prestigious institutions such as Tsinghua and Peking University. The initial phase of the reform to grant rights to scientific and technological achievements has been completed, with one achievement being locally commercialized, generating 12 million yuan. As a result, the university’s overall strength in scientific and technological innovation has risen to the first tier among provincial universities.
Second, the University has also improved mechanisms integrating science and education that is oriented towards high-quality popularization of science, with distinct characteristics of its work in science popularization. The university has deepened reforms on the supply side of science popularization, vigorously promoted the construction of platforms for science popularization, guided the dissemination of scientific research results to the public and cultivated talents in science communication. This multifaceted approach has led to the establishment of a comprehensive, three-tiered science popularization system spanning national, provincial and municipal levels, each with distinct disciplinary characteristics and robust scientist participation. In recent years, Jianghan University has been recognized for establishing several key scientific and cultural education bases. These include the Jianghan University Urban Fashion Sports Science Popularization Base, which has been designated as a National Science Popularization Base and the Academy of Fine Arts and the School of Marxism, both named as Hubei Province Social Science Popularization Bases. Additionally, the Province-Ministry Jointly-Built Precision Blasting National Key Laboratory has been acknowledged as a Hubei Province Science Popularization Education Base and the Ministry of Education’s Key Lab for Photoelectrochemical Materials and Devices has been recognized as a Wuhan City Science Popularization Education Base.
The university’s commitment to science outreach is further evidenced by the continuous production of outstanding science outreach products. A notable example is the “Chilong Lake National Wetland Park Plant Color Atlas,” which won the third prize for scientific and technological progress in Hubei Province. A faculty member has also been honored as a leading science popularizer in the province. The university’s projects have achieved notable success in competitions such as Hubei’s Science Experiment Demonstration and the Youth Science Popularization Innovation Experiment, garnering a range of awards.
The University proactively targets primary and secondary education to instill the values of scientific pioneers and engage in diverse scientific outreach programs. Academician-led teams visit schools to inspire youth, fostering their curiosity, imagination and a mindset for scientific enthusiasm and innovation. This initiative contributes to Wuhan’s status as a key player in the national landscape of scientific and technological innovation.
Beyond academic settings, the University organizes community outreach programs to disseminate the Party’s theoretical achievements, ensuring that the Party’s innovative ideas reach the general public. Jianghan University also blends intangible cultural heritage craftsmanship with innovative modern art, revitalizing traditional culture and invigorating cultural relics and heritage. Community engagement through intangible cultural heritage clubs is encouraged, promoting learning and participation in these practices. The university’s strategic integration of scientific and social science popularization is mutually supportive, advancing technological self-reliance and cultural pride by ensuring the ongoing vitality of cultural traditions.