Today is China's Youth Day. Zhao Zhongwei, a leading figure in China's metallurgy and materials fields, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and Professor at Central South University, gave an exclusive interview. He had in-depth exchanges on topics such as the growth of young scientific researchers, interdisciplinary innovation, and scientific and technological self-reliance and strength. What does he want to say to Central South youth?

Academician Zhao Zhongwei called on young faculty and students to "write their papers on the land of the motherland," inspiring them to devote themselves to national strategies, use the sharp blade of "unity of knowledge and action" to crack scientific research challenges, and let their youth shine in the construction of a science and technology powerhouse!

Xiaonan: Academician Zhao, how can young people form scientific research ideals in their youth?

Academician Zhao Zhongwei: Forming scientific research ideals requires building one's original aspiration in national needs.

When discussing the formation of scientific research ideals in youth, Academician Zhao Zhongwei summarized it as the dual traction of "national demand orientation" and "problem-driven motivation."

He recalled the experiences of senior professors from the School of Metallurgy in rudimentary laboratories: "The true value of scientific research lies not in the pursuit of fame and fortune, but in solving practical problems in national strategies." He emphasized that the sublimation of ideals has gone through three stages—cultivating academic judgment in basic research, strengthening mission consciousness in technological breakthroughs, and establishing the belief of "serving the country through scientific research" in the combination of theory and application.

He urged young people to establish "demand-side thinking" as early as possible, starting from the key practices of the graduate student stage, and integrating personal academic pursuits into the overall picture of national development.

Xiaonan: Academician Zhao, how can we innovate in scientific research?

Academician Zhao Zhongwei: Breakthrough moments in innovation are often born from interdisciplinary cross-fertilization.

When discussing the most unforgettable breakthrough moments in his scientific research career, Academician Zhao Zhongwei mentioned the innovative practice of establishing the sulfuric-phosphoric mixed acid decomposition method in the tungsten metallurgy field. Through systematic reflection on traditional processes, the team achieved full-process benefit maximization from tungsten ore to product.

He pointed out that many research ideas benefit from interdisciplinary thinking: "We can draw on ore-forming geochemistry, biochemistry, analytical chemistry, and other disciplines to develop new methods for metallurgical purification and separation, which is essentially the cross-domain application of fundamental principles."

He emphasized that scientific researchers must be good at grasping the essence of science through phenomena and finding breakthrough points for innovation in interdisciplinary integration.

Xiaonan: Academician Zhao, how can young scientific researchers cultivate original innovation capabilities?

Academician Zhao Zhongwei: Cultivating innovation requires both solidifying foundations and embracing cross-boundary integration.

Regarding how young scientific researchers can cultivate "from zero to one" original innovation capabilities, Academician Zhao Zhongwei put forward three suggestions: First, solidify professional foundations. Citing his own early persistence in extensive literature reading, he emphasized that "solid knowledge reserves are the foundation of innovation." Second, cultivate cross-boundary thinking, proactively drawing methods from disciplines such as physical chemistry and artificial intelligence. Third, focus on collaborative innovation, expanding horizons through domestic and international cooperation.

"Original innovation is the intersection of professional depth, cross-boundary breadth, and demand acuity." He encouraged young people to maintain the courage to explore on a solid foundation, using multidisciplinary integration to drive scientific research development.

Xiaonan: Academician Zhao, how should we face international scientific and technological competition?

Academician Zhao Zhongwei: Empowering technological breakthroughs through interdisciplinary integration is our mission of the era.

Facing international scientific and technological competition, Academician Zhao Zhongwei called on young faculty and students to break traditional professional cognition and actively integrate emerging disciplines such as artificial intelligence and green manufacturing. He emphasized that cross-boundary innovation must break through the "high, grand, and superior" mindset, while also devoting oneself to national strategic fields such as materials science and rare metal extraction, solidifying the foundation of scientific and technological self-reliance. "The enrichment, separation, and purification of minor metals are the 'lifeline' of high-end manufacturing, and 'bottleneck' challenges urgently need to be cracked."

He encouraged young people: "Quickly stoke that furnace fire until it glows red—strike while the iron is hot to succeed!"

Xiaonan: Academician Zhao, what is the contemporary connotation of the May Fourth Spirit?

Academician Zhao Zhongwei: The torch of May Fourth is the spiritual inheritance that inspires scientific research motivation.

When discussing the contemporary connotation of the May Fourth Spirit, Academician Zhao Zhongwei emphasized that young people need to be guided by "patriotism, progress, democracy, and science," and practice their mission in the journey toward a science and technology powerhouse.

He used the example of using metallurgical kinetics models to predict epidemic curves during the pandemic to illustrate the universality of underlying disciplinary logic, calling on young people to be vigilant against "lying-flat-style research." "When studying abroad, humming 'Ode to the Motherland' late at night often brought tears to my eyes. The patriotism in these lyrics is precisely the spiritual foundation of today's technological breakthroughs.

Xiaonan: Academician Zhao, what message do you have for young faculty and students at Central South University?

Academician Zhao Zhongwei: We must be "problem-solvers," but even more so "problem-posers."

Facing young faculty and students at Central South University, Academician Zhao Zhongwei placed high hopes: "Lifelong learning is the key to coping with change. We must both inherit the perseverance of 'sitting through the cold bench until it gets hot,' and participate in global cooperation with an open vision."

He encouraged young people to hone their capabilities in frontier fields, to be "problem-solvers" deeply cultivating "bottleneck" technologies, but even more so to open up new fields with the posture of "problem-posers."

He recommended the book One, Two, Three...Infinity, encouraging young people to break disciplinary boundaries, cultivate innovative thinking, and bravely venture into the deep waters of scientific research, "letting sparks from different fields converge into light."

Original Article Link: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/DJ8pA349040lf6MIBLDH3A