HIT Media (Li Shuangyu/text)
The recipients of the 2025 People in Ecological Civilization Construction awards have recently been announced. Professor Ma Jun, a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) and a faculty member in the School of Environment at Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), was among the ten individuals to receive the honor across China.
Ma Jun (fifth from right) is named 2025 ecological civilization construction person. [Photo/hit.edu.cn]
For many years, Professor Ma has dedicated his research to urban drinking water safety, water environment management, and sustainable environmental development. He has developed original water treatment theories and technologies with proprietary intellectual property rights, helping overcome a number of major technical challenges in China's water security sector.
He pioneered an innovative approach to sustainable, low-carbon, and intelligent water management for both urban and rural areas, established a comprehensive drinking-water safety framework covering every stage from source to tap, and advanced a sustainable urban water-cycle model that emphasizes both pollution prevention at the source and efficient resource recovery and reuse.
His research findings and technological innovations have been adopted by hundreds of water treatment plants across China and have played important roles in major environmental protection efforts, including the emergency response to the Songhua River pollution incident and water-safety support for major national events.
Ma Jun at work. [Photo/hit.edu.cn]
He has promoted environmental awareness and emerging green technologies through lectures, public engagement initiatives, and educational programs for government agencies, students, and young people. Through these efforts, he has helped deepen public understanding of environmental sustainability and low-carbon development while encouraging broader participation in environmental protection. His work has made him an influential advocate for environmental responsibility and sustainable development.
The 2025 People in Ecological Civilization Construction program was approved by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and organized by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment. The program recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to ecological and environmental progress, earned widespread public respect, and exemplify the values of responsibility, innovation, and public service.
Editor: Shang Yankai
Reviewers: Song Ling, Li Shoubin, Yang Wenyu