The Institute of Biophysics (IBP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Nankai University (NKU) have signed an agreement to open the "Zou Chenglu Elite Class", aimed at jointly cultivating leading international talents in the field of life sciences, as part of a talent training program initiated by the CAS and the Ministry of Education.

A class launch and agreement signing ceremony was held on Sept 25 in the NKU School of Life Sciences. Cao Xuetao, president of NKU, and Xu Ruiming, director of the IBP, made speeches at the event. They both noted that the faculty, cutting-edge academic ideas and national research platform of CAS will be introduced to the undergraduate training of NKU over the next five years, integrating a model of coordinated development between Tianjin and Beijing.

Prof Wang Zhizhen of the IBP gave the first class at the opening ceremony. She provided an overview of Zou Chenglu's success in the first synthetic insulin in the world, and inspired the young students to follow the example of the older generation of scientists to be good thinkers and hard workers as well as serve the country using science and technology.

Xu shared his story with the students and teachers of transferring from a physicist to a biologist, and encouraged the students to forge ahead, exceed themselves and learn from their mistakes to convert weaknesses into strength.

A symposium was also held during the ceremony to discuss the teaching and training methods of the elite class.

Xu Ruiming makes a speech during the ceremony on Sept 25.

Cao Xuetao delivers a speech during the ceremony on Sept 25.

Wang Zhizhen gives the first lecture of the elite class during the ceremony on Sept 25.

The IBP and NKU sign a cooperative agreement for the joint creation of "Zou Chenglu Elite Class" on Sept 25.

To give Zou Chenglu Miscellaneous Works as a gift 

Chen Quan, dean of the School of Life Sciences of NKU, presides over the ceremony on Sept 25.

Teachers and students exchange their views on issues of mutual concern at a symposium held after the ceremony on Sept 25.