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UCAS Successfully Hosts the 2025 UCAS-ANSO-APRU International Summer School: “Earth Science for a Shared Future”
“The international summer school has brought together young talents from around the world and promoted the exchanges of diverse cultures, fostering an open and inclusive spirit of international cooperation. In just two weeks, we have transcended the boundaries of time and space, witnessed the sparks of academic exchanges, built bridges of friendship both online and offline, and gained precious insights into cross-cultural understanding,” said Professor Zhou Yuanze, Deputy Dean of College of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), in his speech at the closing ceremony of the 2025 UCAS-ANSO-APRU International Summer School 2025: “Earth Science for a Shared Future” on the afternoon of July 11. The closing ceremony was hosted by Dr. Huang Dingcheng, Deputy Director of the International Affairs Office of UCAS.
At the ceremony, Professor Zhou Yuanze congratulated the participants who successfully completed the summer school program and expressed gratitude to the experts, staff, and volunteers involved. He encouraged the participants to maintain dialogue, continue to explore, and jointly address global challenges such as climate change, natural disasters, marine and atmospheric issues, and the increasingly scarce natural resources, so that the achievements in earth sciences can serve as a testament to the shared future of mankind.
Professor Zhou Yuanze delivers his speech.
On behalf of the teaching faculty, Associate Professor Han Yinghui from College of Resources and Environment of UCAS, Associate Researcher Zhang Junya from Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences of CAS, and Dr. Hu Yanzi from Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research of CAS delivered summary speeches at the closing ceremony. They noted that during the international summer school, participants had immersed themselves in science, engaged in innovative practices, visited major national scientific facilities, and experienced Chinese culture. They encouraged the participants to maintain their passion for scientific exploration, to respond to the challenges of diversity, and to become bridges for cross-cultural exchange and vanguard forces in addressing major human challenges.
Faculty representatives deliver speeches.
Student representatives LUCIO LOURENCO DE FREITAS NETO from the Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil, ORYZA SATIVA AFRA IFTIKAR from the University Indonesia, and a volunteer representative MOHAMMAD MUJTABA SADEQI from UCAS shared their gains from the international summer school.
LUCIO said, “As we leave, we take with us not just certificates, but memories, knowledge, and a global network of peers. Some may return to China for research; others will apply these lessons at home. But one thing is certain: this summer school has changed us.”
“Meeting passionate students from all over the world, exchanging ideas, and collaborating on projects has created a vibrant community of like-minded individuals committed to advancing science and sustainability”, said ORYZA.
MOHAMMAD, a master’s student from the College of Resources and Environment of UCAS recalled the unforgettable moments of interaction and mutual learning among students from various countries during the summer school. He expressed his great joy at seeing young people from all over the world studying Chinese culture and scientific knowledge with an open and positive attitude.
Student representatives give speeches.
Present completion certificates.
This international summer school was co-hosted by the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), the Alliance of International Science Organizations (ANSO) under the Belt and Road Initiative, and the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU). It was jointly participated by Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, CAS, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, CAS, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, CAS, Institute of Earth Environment, CAS, and the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, CAS. The 14-day program consisted of online courses (June 25 - July 1) and offline research activities (July 5 - 11), with over 50 outstanding students from 37 universities in 25 countries and regions, including France, Brazil, Australia, Germany, Nepal, Russia, and Indonesia, participating in the event.
The seven-day online courses covered Quaternary geochronology, deep Earth processes and plate tectonics, frontier lectures on geography, and principles and technologies of river restoration. These courses were taught by 23 renowned experts and scholars from home and abroad. They shared cutting-edge developments and trends in related fields with the participants. In addition, Professor Xue Kai from College of Resources and Environment, UCAS, delivered a lecture on the theme of “The Regulatory Role of Microorganisms in Ecosystem Feedback to Climate Change” on the opening day of the international summer school.
Online Courses
Professor Xue Kai delivers a lecture.
On the opening day of July 6, the international summer school held three doctoral academic forums. Participants actively shared their research achievements in the fields of earth sciences, resources, and environment, and jointly explored ways to leverage science and technology to shape the future and protect the planet.
Some participants report on the doctoral academic forums.
Award Ceremony of the Doctoral Student Academic Forum
From July 7 to 9, participants were divided into groups to carry out a variety of scientific research and practical activities arranged by College of Earth and Planetary Sciences of UCAS, College of Resources and Environment of UCAS, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Institute of Earth Environment, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, and Institute of Geology and Geophysics of CAS.
Scientific Research and Practice Activity at Jinyindao Ranch
The Group Photo of Participants at Jinyindao Ranch
Field Investigation into Geological Structures and Hazards in the Southern Yunmeng Mountain
Visit to the National Engineering Laboratory for Volatile Organic Compounds Pollution Control Materials and Technologies
At Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, CAS, the participants visited relevant laboratories and the Shougang Industrial Park to learn about industrial transformation. They also visited the “Rainwater and Flood Utilization Demonstration Project” of Beijing Tidelion Science and Innovation Group Co., Ltd. located in the Olympic Central Area, experiencing first-hand the top-tier research environment and capabilities. Additionally, the participants joined relevant research groups, carried out research work and conducted group exchanges and presentations.
Visit to Shougang Park
The Photo of Some Participants at the Ecological and Environmental Research Center
At the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, the participants engaged in face-to-face discussions with all international students studying at the institute, heads of the Education Department and International Cooperation Department, as well as representative supervisors. They conducted in-depth exchanges on topics such as academic research and cultural adaptation. To further broaden their academic horizons, the participants also had one-on-one in-depth conversations with supervisors whose research directions aligned with their interests and attended in-depth academic reports in related fields. The institute specially curated and held a cultural experience lecture titled “Appreciation of Chinese Tea and the Aesthetics of Tea Affairs”. Mr. Liang Ming, a renowned tea art expert, was present to demonstrate the exquisite and flowing tea art aesthetics, allowing the participants to experience the unique charm of traditional Chinese aesthetics.
The Photo of Some Participates at Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS
Participate in a tea culture experience activity.
Under the guidance of the Loess and Climate Change Team from Institute of Earth Environment, CAS, the participants successively engaged in two-day principle learning and operational practice in five paleoenvironmental analysis laboratories, namely paleomagnetism, core scanning, luminescence, mineralogy, and scanning electron microscopy. Subsequently, the team traveled to Weinan to conduct an on-site visit to the scientific drilling site in the Weihe Basin and the surrounding field outcrops. Through two days of multi-site fieldwork and investigations, the participants gained an intuitive and profound understanding of the sediment characteristics of the Weihe Basin and their environmental indicative significance.
The Photo of Some Participants at Institute of Earth Environment, CAS
Participants Engage in Field Investigation
At Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, CAS, under the introduction of researchers, the participants learned about the basic principles of dendrochronology, the distribution patterns of tree lines and shrub lines, and their migration dynamics under climate change. They also conducted tree-ring experiments under guidance. In addition, the participants visited distinctive exhibitions such as Museum of the Communist Party of China, gaining a more vivid and intuitive understanding of China’s past and present.
Participants are learning about dendrochronology.
At Institute of Geology and Geophysics, CAS, the participants visited a series of advanced experimental research platforms including the Paleomagnetism and Chronology Laboratory and the Incoherent Scattering Radar Laboratory. Through this visit, they knew better the institute’s advanced experimental observation systems, as well as the application of experimental testing, analysis, and observation technologies from different disciplines in professional fields. Meanwhile, they also had in-depth exchanges and discussions with researchers from relevant research groups.
A Two-Shot of two participants at Institute of Geology and Geophysics, CAS.
The 2025 UCAS-ANSO-APRU Summer School: “Earth Sciences for a Shared Future” is the second international summer school held at the main campus of UCAS following the 2024 Summer School: “Global Change and Ecological Health”. This learning experience, which tightly integrates theory and practice, has not only deepened the participants’ understanding of cutting-edge topics and research methods but also enhanced their practical operational capabilities. It has laid a solid foundation for their future engagement in related fields of research and further stimulated their enthusiasm for scientific research in earth sciences.
In the future, UCAS will continue to expand more academic exchange platforms for global young talents. It is expected that international exchanges and cooperation will serve as a bond to promote the building of a community with a shared future for humankind and join hands to create a better tomorrow.
Group photo
Author: International Students Office
Photo: International Students Office
Editor: GAO Yuan
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Research News
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Scientists Develop Hybrid Interlayer Enabling 21% Efficiency in Organic Solar Cells
Researchers from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS) and their collaborators reported an inorganic/organic hybrid cathode interfacial layer (CIL), which enabled a high-power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 21.0%, with a certified efficiency of 20.8%, representing the highest values recorded for organic solar cells (OSCs) to date. The study was published in Nature Materials on July 18.
OSCs have attracted growing interest due to their lightweight, flexibility, and compatibility with scalable solution processing. However, their commercial potential remains limited by lower PCE compared to inorganic and perovskite solar cells. This gap is largely attributed to unbalanced charge transport and severe recombination losses at the interfaces, which reduce both the open-circuit voltage (Voc) and fill factor (FF) of the devices.
To address this bottleneck, the team proposed a dual-component synergy strategy for designing a novel hybrid CIL, AZnO-F3N, by integrating organic material PNDIT-F3N with two-dimensional amorphous zinc oxide (2D A-ZnO). This strategy leverages the synergistic interactions between 2D A-ZnO and PNDIT-F3N, resulting in reduced interfacial defect, enhanced conductivity, and improved film uniformity. OSCs incorporating the AZnO-F3N CIL exhibit more efficient charge extraction and transport, along with reduced recombination.
The hybrid interlayer exhibits broad compatibility with different active layers, thick-film architectures, and flexible devices, while significantly enhancing photostability and mechanical durability. This approach is also applicable to other organic CIL materials such as PDIN and PDINN, offering a general strategy for advancing high-performance and stable OSCs.
This research was led by corresponding authors Associate Professor CAI Yunhao (UCAS), Professor GUO Lin (Beihang University), and Professor HUANG Hui (UCAS/ Tianjin University), with Ms. LI Congqi (Ph.D. candidate at UCAS) as first author. This work was conducted in collaboration with researchers from the UCAS, Beihang University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University and other institutions.
Full article: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41563-025-02305-8
a-c High-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy images and b-e schematic diagrams of the morphology of 2D A-ZnO, PNDIT-F3N and AZnO-F3N CILs on the active layer.
(Credit: LI Congqi, CAI Yunhao, HUANG Hui)
Author: Congqi Li, Yunhao Cai, Hui Huang (College of Materials Science and Opto-Electronic Technology，UCAS)
Editor: GAO Yuan
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