Recently, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chair Professor of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Director of the National Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Zhang Di, was invited to speak at the "Sino-French Excellence Lecture Series" and the SPEIT Engineer Culture Class, sharing his cutting-edge research on the "Structural Composite of Metal Materials."

The event was attended by SPEIT Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee Yao Xue, Deputy Dean Zhong Shengyi, and more than 80 students. The event was hosted by Tian Yuan, a sophomore student majoring in Information Engineering from the Class of 2022.

Zhong Shengyi extended a warm welcome to Academician Zhang Di on behalf of the institute and introduced him to the attending teachers and students. Academician Zhang Di has long been engaged in the fundamental research and application of metal matrix and structural composite materials, creating a series of lightweight and high-strength metal matrix composites for several major national projects, successfully applied in China's aerospace and other high-tech fields.

In his lecture, Academician Zhang Di introduced the current research status, application fields, and future development trends of metal matrix composites in an accessible manner, revealing the importance and engineering application value of this research field. During the Q&A session, students asked Academician Zhang Di questions about scientific innovation and breakthroughs, interests and perseverance, and career planning goals. Academician Zhang Di emphasized that each generation of equipment drives the development of new materials, and each generation of materials creates new equipment. Only advanced Chinese materials can solidify the foundation of Chinese manufacturing. He encouraged SPEIT students to uphold the mission of contributing to the nation through scientific research, adhering to the principles and spirit of "considering the needs of the country, responding to the urgency of the country, and meeting the requirements of the country," and to contribute to the long-term development of China's material science and related industries. His talk received rounds of applause.

Academician Zhang Di not only shared cutting-edge industry knowledge but also inspired and guided the teachers and students in their ambitions, motivating them to pursue excellence and serve the country through scientific research. In the end, Yao Xue presented a customized gift from the institute to Academician Zhang Di, expressing gratitude for his excellent talk.

This session of the Sino-French Excellence Lecture Series and Engineer Culture Class was a great success. The Sino-French Excellence Lecture Series, established by SPEIT in November 2023, aims to invite renowned academic masters, senior corporate executives, and top technical experts from home and abroad to interact face-to-face with teachers and students, sharing scientific wisdom and life experiences. The Engineer Culture Class, offered in the foundational phase of the institute's talent training (the first 2.5 years), includes corporate visits, master lectures, and design competitions, aiming to cultivate students' engineering culture literacy and management skills. The institute will continue to invite influential figures from various industries worldwide to exchange ideas with students, helping them grow into excellent talents who are globally oriented and future leaders.

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