On the afternoon of November 22, the talk of Top-Notch Talents Programme in Atmospheric Science and the peer-sharing session on scientific research and practice, themed at “Forge ahead with majestic demeanor”, were successfully held at 1-205 of Yi-fu Building, Xianlin Campus of Nanjing University. The event, presided over by the student counsellor Dai Beiye, invited Professor Zhang Yang, assistant to the dean of the School of Atmospheric Sciences, as well as some excellent students to share with the freshmen of School of Atmospheric Science.

At the outset, Pro. Zhang introduced the cultivation plan of Top-Notch Talents Programme in Atmospheric Science to the students, and explained in detail the three major mechanisms in this programme. First was the dynamic model of entry and exit. Zhang underscored that students should step up their efforts to adapt to the college life and cement their speciality literacy, trying not to be selected out by the programme. Second was the integration of study and research. She pointed out that School of Atmospheric Sciences set up courses to integrate the learning process with practice, and provided scientific research training and one-on-one mentoring for the students in the programme. Third was the student motivation, Pro. Zhang encouraged students to participate in scientific research training both home and abroad so as to form a global vision and a disciplinary literacy.

Next, Liu Yi, student of 2020 Top-Notch Talents Programme in Atmospheric Science, shared her insights to the freshmen into receiving the first Basic Research Project Foundation for The Excellent Youth Students funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC). Liu further explained her root motivation in choosing this career path, saying that the personal experience of a heavy rainstorm during the first-year undergraduate program that took place in her hometown of Zhengzhou somehow became a driving force for her to enhance the knowledge base and trace the root causes of natural phenomenon such as typhoon. She encouraged the freshmen to cultivate their interests, solidify their studies, horn their skills and broaden their horizons by making the utmost use of the opportunities offered by the school. She hoped that every student can take the initiative to discover what they truly love and find their own research orientation. Talking about the application process, Liu emphasized that a clear plan should be carried out focusing on educational background, research foundation, research intention and research content, and reminded students that they should prepare beforehand and seize the opportunity.

Moreover, Pang Zefei, undergraduate student of class 2020, shared his experience of participating in the global research and research training programme supported by both China and Institute of Atmospheric and Earth System at University of Helsinki. Pang introduced the whole process of preliminary work, research project preparations, field research and the final reporting. In the long summer season at 60 N latitude, he travelled through the streets and alleys of Helsinki, visited the tranquil forest observatories, and brainstormed with teammates in a century-old cabin. Speaking of the gains in this process, he noted that instead of worrying about the uncertainties of the future, it is more worthwhile to seize the opportunities and take immediate actions. The students ought to actively communicate with faculty members, attaching much importance to the process of scientific research rather than the titles and honors offered by a project. If they can garner confidence and enthusiasm through the process, and try to cross the border from imitation to innovation, they will finally make progress.

This event nurtured students with both academic guidance and moral encouragement. Thanks to the sharing of Prof. Zhang Yang and excellent peers, the freshmen students of School of Atmospheric Science boast a clearer understanding of the career path. The event fully displayed the spirit of the school, that is, to forge ahead with majestic demeanor and to climb the peak with tremendous courage. A little starlight, if converged, can light up the whole sky; a tiny spark, if gathered, can become a prairie fire.