Reported by: LAN Rui/LAN Zilong
Photographed by :LANRui
Translated by: YANG Yue
Edited by : Jonathan Wylie
From September 9th-12th, Nobel Laureatein Physics from2004, Professor David Gross, together with Professor HAN Tao, of the Department of Physics and Astronomy, at the University of Pittsburgh, along with their party, visited HIT. During the visit, Gross met the teachers and students of the Department of Physics in the Schoolof Science, visited the HIT museum, attended talks onHIT’s"ground space environment simulation facility,” the National Infrastructure Projects(referred to as "big science project"), and gave a lecture to teachers and students.Gross was also appointed as an Honorary Professor of HIT and a committee consultant of the school “big science project.” Professor Han Taowas hired by HIT as a chief academic consultant.
On the morning of September 10, Gross and his entourage arrived at the Science Building, Conference Room 213, where a discussion was held with teachers and students from the Department of Physics. Gross listened to the physics discipline reports, and gained insight intothe discipline from the perspective of teachers, personnel training, scientific research, academic achievements and external cooperation in specific circumstances. The discussion of the meeting included both cognitive science and the understanding of life and choice, all of which was of great benefit to teachers and students.
In the afternoon, at the International Conference Center in the Science Park, Gross listened to areport of HIT’s, "big science project.” Vice PresidentsHANJiecai andGUOBin talked aboutthe big scientific apparatus system and the need for high-energy physics. A series of scientific issues was also discussed among experts as part of the exchange. Gross combined analysis of individual research fields such as particle physics and string theory in big science projects may play a role, andhoping to work together withHIT and the world's top experts in related fields, made new in the field of space science research results. [JW1] Prior to these discussions, the partner of Gross, Professor Han Tao, was employed by HIT.Vice President HAN Jiecai issued HAN Tao’s letter of appointment.
On September 12, Gross visitedtheCampus Sports Center on the second campus, where he gave a scholarly report on the "basic physical frontier.” He explained the forefront of fundamental physics and its development. Gross focused on several aspects of the field such as, the Rutherford scattering experiment the 2013 discovery of the Higgs boson, and the classical theory of the Big Bang. Grossconnected these famous discoveries in the history of physics with the current forefront of development in the field, expressing that the research and development of physics will never end, and there are still mysterious areas waiting for exploration. In the nearly two hour report the audience was engaged in a magical world, as they listened to Gross explain and explore a magnetic pole, positive and negative charges, the natural beauty of symmetry, concise equations, cohesion language, the simplicity of physical beauty, conservation of energy, wave-particleduality, and the beauty of unity. Before the report, on behalf of the school, Vice President REN Nanqi awarded Gross the title of Honorary Professor, and employedhim as a consultant for HIT’s big science project advisory committee.
Gross is an American theoretical physicist, a professor of physics at the University of California, Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics Institute, is President of the Institute of Theoretical Physics, a member of the Chinese Academy of Science, International Advisory Board, and Chairman of the International Conference on string theory. His research focused on quantum chromodynamics, supersymmetric field theory, string theory, and the grand unified theory. He has made a series of outstanding research achievements in the gauge field, particle physics and string theory, due to his groundbreaking discovery of quark asymptotic freedom, which garnered him the 2004 Nobel Prize in Physics. Professor HANTao is one of the United States’ most active particle theorists, a former professor of physics and elementary particles at the Madison Institute of the University of Wisconsin, and current Professor of Astronomy in the University of Pittsburgh Department of Physics and is the Director of the PITTsburgh Particle physics, Astrophysics and Cosmology Center (PITTPAC).
The School Youth League, university personnel, individuals from the International Cooperation Department, the Department of Physics, and other responsible personsparticipated in these activities.
Vice PresidentZHOUYumeets with Professor David Gross
Vice PresidentHAN presents a letter of appointmenttoProfessor HAN Tao
Vice President RENNanqipresentsGross with aletterofappointment
Participants discuss during a meeting
Gross meets with faculty and staff
Discussion takes place at the meeting
Gross delivered a lecture to a large audience of students and staff
Students listen attentively to Gross’ lecture
Gross delivers a report to teachers and students
