2023: A year of student breakthroughs
Editor’s Note:
As 2024 dawns, we stand at the brink of new opportunities, ready to embrace the stories of accomplishment, endeavor and innovation that have defined the past year. In this article, we feature three Tsinghua students' stories among the many who achieved breakthrough this year. From pioneering academic breakthroughs to deep explorations in literature, they set the tone for 2023 and inspire us to pursue even greater possibilities in the new year.
Lin Youjun
Lin Youjun, an undergraduate student from Taiwan, China, has undertaken the task of testing methods once considered nearly impossible, as noted in publications like Nature and Advanced Science. His deep understanding of the chip industry and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), nurtured from a young age, propels his diligent pursuit of studies in the School of Materials Science and Engineering with the aspiration to contribute to China's vital field of chip materials.
During his first year at college, Lin pondered a challenging question: Could combining different kinds of novel semiconductors lead to a breakthrough in material performance? Despite a series of unsuccessful experiments, his determination only grew as he discovered that this challenge had long confounded the global academic community. According to authoritative studies, achieving such a combination through conventional methods was nearly impossible.
"In the realm of chips, countless breakthroughs are born from challenging the impossible," asserts Lin. An incident exemplifying this was an unforeseen failure in the airflow controller during an experiment. This malfunction, however, turned out to provide a new idea as Lin observed a subtle difference in the results. Seizing this opportunity, Lin, along with his instructor, developed Pulsed Airflow Technology. This innovative method has not only defied conventional beliefs but also set world records. Their groundbreaking results are currently in the process of submission for review.
"For me, to challenge is a belief," Lin encapsulates his philosophy from the past three years. He will continue to push boundaries and resolve critical technological challenges for China. His academic journey is set to continue at Tsinghua, with a focus on fundamental science, aiming to make further significant contributions.
Zheng Pengchang
"I am always a pedestrian of my hometown, and this is meant to be," says Zheng Pengchang, a student from the Department of Automation whose original fiction titled Typhoon Day earned her the exclusive first prize in the recent Zhu Ziqing Literature Award. Despite her engineering background, she embraces her life by means of literature, delving into the concept of hometown and connections among people.
The narrative of Typhoon Day unfolds through the eyes of a youth who sporadically returns to his hometown with which he is not quite familiar. Gradually, he becomes acquainted with the traditional customs and cultures, observing subtle shifts in emotions and relationships within a large family.
The customs of his hometown, conveying various rituals, emotions, and spirits, leave a profound impact on this simple youngster. The fiction also presents topics such as challenges of rural urbanization, identity dilemmas arising from the urban-rural divide and poignant homesickness.
Zheng's novel serves as a canvas for her distinctive memories and reflections. Having spent her childhood in the suburbs of the Chaoshan area, Guangdong, she was fully immersed in the local customs and fascinated by how they carried the residents' beliefs and solace. During the creation of her novel, she felt motivated by the storyline together with those characters in it – what she wrote resonated with what she recalled and cherished. She did not anticipate the later acclaim during the process of writing. Instead, she just wrote, probed, and experienced, which was enjoyable enough for her.
"As for me, to write is also to reorganize my past memories, and to break the space-time limitation going back to my spiritual hometown," declares Zheng. As her novel unfolds and takes shape, her bygone days become vivid once more. Scenes replay in her mind, such as her grandmother accompanying her to the market where cordial neighbors chatted and laughed. She was remarkably contented to find her own way going back to the place she grew up and will always belong to.
Lei Hongtao
On November 5th, 2023, Tsinghua University defeated Peking University at the Honor of Kings Elite Cup (Collegiate League) with a scoreboard of 3-to-1, achieving championship in Beijing and reaching the national top eight, the highest that Tsinghua has ever scored.
Lei Hongtao, a third-year undergraduate at Tsinghua’s Department of Automation, serves as captain of Tsinghua’s representative Honor of Kings team “with a clear conscience”. In his freshman year, Hongtao first encountered collegiate esports when he entered an in-school interdepartmental Honor of Kings competition. After the event, Hongtao aspired to join the university team, which he did shortly thereafter.
During the summer break of his freshman year, Hongtao realized that Automation was not his passion. “My academic results were disappointing, and I was on the verge of failing a course,” Hongtao recalled. “My peers were more talented and passionate about the field than I was, and the pressure of competition led me into a state of anxiety.”
“Choosing to major in Automation was a result of unconscious conformity. I followed the footsteps of others, instead of pursuing my true passions,” Hongtao explained. After this realization, he withdrew from graduate school recommendations. “After the decision, I devoted all my time outside of studying to my interests. Focusing on the present, I immersed myself in the joy of the moment.”
“Our team is now at the pinnacle of the collegiate Honor of Kings esports scene. Following my passions, I found my own shining moment outside of academics,” commented Hongtao. In the future, he aims to engage in esports-related industries, such as game programming and production, which also incorporates elements of Automation. Hongtao carved out his own professional path, combining his major and interests.
“It doesn’t matter whether you channel all your energy into studying or pursuing other passions, either choice is valid as long as it’s your own decision and you have no regrets,” remarked Hongtao.
As we venture into the new year, may our collective spirit lead to fresh insights, undiscovered territories and unexplored success. Here's to a year of even more breakthroughs, and to the vibrant future awaiting each member within our university community.
Happy New Year and may our journey of discovery continue!
Read more about THU
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Li Meng: Navigating carbon footprints and policy pathways
Seeing the benefits of the BRI with our own eyes in Hungary
TsinghuaRen | 2023: A Year of Student Breakthroughs
Writers: Xu Fenyi, Mike Qian
Editors: Gillian Tang, Liu Shutian
Designer: Xia Yifei
Reviewers: Chen Ken, Lin Yuan