September marks the start of a new voyage. On September 2, the Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (SICCAS), held the opening ceremony for its 2026 graduate students at the Taihu Road Campus of the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC). Attendees included Jiang Bin, Vice Dean of the School of Chemistry and Materials Science at USTC; Zhou Xiaodong, Deputy Party Secretary of the School; Shi Xun, Deputy Director of SICCAS; Zhu Yun, Secretary of the Communist Youth League Committee of the School; and Zhang Wenhua, the class advisor for the 2026 proxy-cultivated students. The ceremony was presided over by Lu Caifei, Director of the Graduate Department of SICCAS, with all new graduate students of the Class of 2026 in attendance. The ceremony commenced with the singing of the national anthem.

Jiang Bin delivered a welcome speech on behalf of the School of Chemistry and Materials Science at USTC. He stated that SICCAS and USTC have maintained close collaboration in scientific research and talent cultivation, jointly nurturing a large number of outstanding individuals. He mentioned that this year marks the first year of the official opening of the Taihu Road Campus, which welcomes its first batch of proxy-cultivated graduate students, making it particularly significant. Jiang Bin encouraged the new students to make good use of the university's high-quality educational resources during this half-year proxy-cultivation period, devote themselves to learning, continuously consolidate their professional foundations, and lay a solid groundwork for their future scientific research careers.

Zhou Xiaodong offered earnest advice to the new students regarding campus safety and student management. She noted that the new campus and new life signify a fresh start. She hoped that everyone would familiarize themselves with the campus layout and teaching facilities as soon as possible, proactively integrate into the academic atmosphere, and broaden their horizons and inspire their thinking through various academic exchanges. She also wished all new students peace of mind in their studies and comfort in their lives at the Taihu Road Campus, welcoming new challenges with full enthusiasm.

Shi Xun, on behalf of SICCAS, extended a warm welcome to the 2026 graduate students. He stated that the graduate stage is an important starting point for academic growth and a particularly precious period of accumulation in life. He hoped that everyone would cherish this pure time of learning, remain calm and composed, accumulate strength, and invest in their studies and research with a sense of urgency. At the same time, he affectionately encouraged the students to pay attention to their physical and mental health and cultivate their character while dedicating themselves to their studies. He looks forward to everyone showcasing their talents on the broad platform of SICCAS in the future and contributing their youthful strength to the nation's scientific and technological progress.

Zhu Yun encouraged the new students to actively integrate into the campus culture, participate in Party and League organization activities, academic exchanges, red education practices, and various cultural and sports events. She urged them to enrich their extracurricular lives and broaden their horizons through diverse experiences, gain growth and friendship while focusing on their studies, and strive to create a fulfilling and wonderful chapter of graduate school.

Zhang Wenhua advised the new students to make good use of USTC's high-quality platform, absorb new knowledge, broaden their horizons, and achieve the unity of knowledge and practice in scientific research. She encouraged everyone to help and progress together in collective life, meet challenges with a sound mind and body, and accumulate a solid foundation for their future scientific research paths.

Chen Ji'an spoke as a representative of the 2026 new students. On behalf of all new students, he solemnly promised to closely align with national strategic needs and deeply cultivate the frontiers of materials science; actively expand international perspectives and enhance innovation capabilities through exchanges and mutual learning; inherit the spirit of scientists and refine a rigorous and pragmatic scientific research character; and contribute youthful strength to the building of a strong nation in science and technology and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through concrete actions.

Under the guidance of Lu Caifei, the new students participated in a university badge-pinning ceremony, solemnly pinning the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS) badges on themselves.

To leverage the value-leading power of the scientist spirit, Jiang Bin and Shi Xun presented copies of Wills of a Hundred Famous Scientists Joining the Party and SICCAS academician bookmarks to representatives of the new students. This aimed to enlighten and nurture the minds of the younger generation with the scientist spirit and inspire future scholars. The books carry the noble characters of the older generation of scientists—their love for the motherland, pioneering spirit, rigorous scholarship, indifference to fame and wealth, and collective research. It is expected that the new students will draw strength from these to integrate their personal academic pursuits into the overall national development, write their papers on the land of the motherland, and strive continuously for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

(Image caption: Jiang Bin and Shi Xun present copies of "Wills of a Hundred Famous Scientists Joining the Party" and SICCAS academician bookmarks to representatives of the new students)

The opening ceremony concluded successfully with all attendees singing the Song of the Shanghai Institute of Ceramics together.

Following the ceremony, Lu Caifei presided over the first class meeting for the 2026 graduate students. She provided a detailed introduction to the schedule, coursework, tuition and scholarships, medical care and insurance, and other related matters. Wu Sihan, Chairman of the SICCAS Graduate Student Union; Xu Yuefan, Director of the Converged Media Center; Zhang Tianhui, Class Monitor of the 2025 graduate class; and Liu Rengqian, Secretary of the Party Branch, introduced student life and their experiences in student work to the new students. During the meeting, Li Guangda and Pan Hongji were elected as the Class Monitor and League Branch Secretary of the Class of 2026 through self-nomination and election.