Faculty Features | Yigal Achmon：希望广以能成为孕育美好未来的沃土
三尺讲台春风化雨，门下自是桃李成辉。广东以色列理工学院拥有世界一流的教师团队，老师们全情投入，潜心钻研，成为学生们科研思维的开启者、科研道路的引路人，也因此收获学生们敬重和爱戴。广以教师系列专访将与大家分享学校的师长大家们在治学修身、教书育人上的真知灼见和感悟箴言，让更多人走进广以课堂，走近广以教师，了解广以的办学特色与育人理念。
简介
Yigal Achmon
生物技术与食品工程
助理教授
Yigal Achmon教授来自以色列，拥有以色列理工学院生物技术和食品工程博士学位。2018年加盟广东以色列理工学院前，曾在加州大学戴维斯分校Christopher Simmon教授的实验室担任博士后研究员、在以色列Volacni农业中心担任博士后。在广以任教以来，广受学生好评，曾获广以2021年“优秀教师”称号。
Yigal Achmon博士的办公室窗外山景和天色对半，深红和橘黄点缀在山丘的绿色中，十分惬意。他向我们讲述了自己与广以的故事。
您为什么选择广以？
我在一次机缘巧合了解到以色列理工学院计划在中国建立一所理工科大学。当时周围的同辈大多选择回到以色列，或是继续在美国发展，但我认为这是一个“巨大的机遇”，会是一个“全新的开始 （a clean slate）”，因为这个学校有很强的可塑性和潜力。我非常认同广以的办学理念和独特的氛围，广以有很大的潜力，现在还只是开始，而我很乐意成为这个过程的一员。
Yigal Achmon 教授
一开始我觉得中文发音很难，现在不但拥有学生起的中文名“依高”，发音也非常标准。我爱吃辣，喜欢火锅，常在汕头各地体验美食。汕头对我来说是一座迷人的小城，这里的人都很友好。我刚到汕头时，还不会使用电子支付，在外几乎寸步难行。当时遇到了一个热心人，骑着自行车带我，把我送到银行取钱。很感谢他的帮助。
如果用三个关键词描述广以，
您会选择哪三个？
我认为是开拓性（Pioneering）、创新性（Innovative）和杰出性（Excellent）。
广以是唯一一所由中国和以色列合作办学的理工科大学，它的设立独特且具有开拓性。以色列理工学院一直强调发挥学生的创新性，我们鼓励同学们跳出固有思维，发挥创造力，多角度思考问题、解决问题。杰出性则是我们对学生的愿景，希望他们目光放远，敢想敢做，成为优秀的人才。
此外，我认为广以也是连接不同文化的桥梁。中以之间一直有许多合作，而广以会是其中最活跃的一员。
您为什么选择生物技术与食品工程专业？
第一年来广以时，我教的是Introduction to Biochemistry和Introduction to Food Engineering两门课，这也是我第一次从事大量教学任务。但授课过程让我觉得很有意义，中国学生和以色列学生思维模式不同，和这些年轻的头脑碰撞也让我受益良多。我很享受和学生们接触，看着他们从一开始非常害羞，只是听课、不敢提问，到后面做出不错的作品。我们还做过海报展，你能看到他们如何跳出舒适圈进行创新，这一切都让我非常有成就感。
Yigal 教授为学生海报打分
教学也是科研工作的一部分，我们试图推动知识进步，解决人类问题，并探寻新的自然规律和现象。广以是一所理工科大学，我所在的专业能帮助解决生物上和环境上的问题，这也是人们关注的两大热门话题。
这个专业偏理论还是应用？
它最重要的问题或挑战是什么？
这就像问一位母亲更爱哪个孩子一样——两者密不可分。在广以，理论和应用两方面的教学我们都会提供。
我们专业对全球性问题，例如气候变化，提供生物学方面的解决方法。这样做并不是为了保护地球——没有人类，地球照常运行——而是为了生命，尤其是人类的生命。我们关注民生（human well-being），希望人类过上好生活——身体健康、饮食无忧、文明延续。这是我们的立场。
Yigal教授在2021年创交会进行分享
我们的学生将有机会参与解决这个时代最重要、最切实的问题。生物技术与食品工程的研究分为两个方面：在生物技术方面，我们关注环境和健康。比如研究微生物对环境、对人类活动的影响。我们关注的并不只是环境中的景观，还有微生物环境。在食品工程方面，我们关注食品。比如我正在研究食物浪费。我认为食物浪费不会消失，只要人吃饭，就会有食物被浪费。我们的关注点在于如何改善这一现象。
我一直告诉学生们，解决问题是他们自己的挑战，而我的使命是让他们明白这些挑战的重要性，并为学生提供解决问题的知识和工具。智慧的传递是实现可持续发展的重要一环。
能谈谈您的教学理念吗？
作为教师，我们的目标一是传递知识，二是教育学生。现在我的一些学生也在我的实验室工作，我们的交流互动进入一个完全不同的层次，这是非常让人振奋的。我感觉自己就像一个农民，勤恳耕耘，看着他们从新生苗苗成为独当一面的研究员，非常有成就感。
翻转校园开放日Yigal教授与同学们互动
我希望引导学生自主学习，“授人以鱼不如授人以渔”。我通过课堂互动等方式传授知识，适当加入幽默吸引学生兴趣，鼓励他们自主探索，创造分享的环境。当学生来问问题时，即使我知道答案，我也会告诉他们“我也不知道”——然后是“我们一起来找答案”。我会找一些文献资料，和他们一起通过自主探索解决问题。
学生如何更好地参与您的课堂？
一般来说，学生需要做到两件事：阅读和思考。阅读教科书、相关文献和讲义，思考、理解课程内容，不要死记硬背。最重要的是，学会寻求帮助。有些学生因为太害羞或是太骄傲不愿意提问，但如果不问出来，他们永远得不到答案。所有人都有不懂的时候，也都有犯错的时候。从错误中汲取经验才能成长，把问题问出来才会有人能帮助到你。
Yigal为课堂汇报获胜小组颁奖
另外，我希望学生能够自律。如今，有各种各样的事情在抢夺你的注意力，学生需要告诉自己，现在是需要专注学习的时候，抵挡住诱惑。另一方面，学生也需要平衡学习和生活，适当的休息和活动能够帮助他们更好地完成目标。
您刚才提到劳逸结合，面对生活中许多事情，您如何确定自己的优先事项呢？
事情大致可以按照两个标准分类：是否紧急和是否重要。对于紧急的事情，你需要马上行动；对于重要的事情，你必须持续努力以求做到最好。对于学生尤其是新生来说，学习既紧急又重要，必须作为优先事项完成。关于这点每个人都有适合自己的方法，我只是提供一个大致方向。
我认为学生需要知道关心心理健康的重要性。遇到心理上的问题不是什么羞耻难堪的事情，你不是一个人，每个人都有类似的感受。主动寻求帮助，可以找你的朋友、老师，他们很乐意帮助你。
Yigal Achmon教授
我希望学生能找到适合自己的放松方式。比如我喜欢跑步，挥洒汗水让我觉得快乐。还有人喜欢弹奏乐器，或是冥想。
总而言之，我希望学生们不仅要考虑到紧急和重要的事情，还要考虑到有助于自己心理健康的事情。如果学生能意识到这一点，我觉得就能找到学习和生活的平衡。
您最想对广以学子说的话是什么？
我希望他们能以广以为傲。他们的努力决定着这所大学的未来。我真切希望在20年后，他们能带着自豪感和成就感说“我来自广以”。希望广以能成为孕育美好未来的沃土。
Teachers are like a lighthouse, enlightening all the passing generations. In Guangdong Technion – Institute of Technology, language is not a barrier between teachers and students. Teachers devoted themselves to teaching and research, winning many students' respect and love.
We will present a series of interviews with teachers, who will share their insights on education so that more people can get close to GTIIT's classes and teachers and know about its characteristics and educational philosophy.
Profile
Yigal Achmon
Biotechnology and Food Engineering
Assistant Professor
Dr. Yigal Achmon comes from Israel. He holds a BSc in Biochemistry and Food Science from the Faculty of Agriculture at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a direct Ph.D. in Biotechnology and Food Engineering from the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology. Before joining Guangdong Technion - Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT) in 2018, he was a postdoctoral researcher at Professor Christopher Simmon's lab at the University of California at Davis and had then done a short postdoctoral at Volacni Israeli agricultural center. He is popular among students and has won GTIIT's "Excellence in Teaching" award.
Here is the interview with Dr. Yigal Achmon.
Why do you choose GTIIT?
I got to know that the Technion was establishing a university in China. At that time, it seemed that my peers would choose either coming back to Israel or staying in the States, but I wanted to do something different. I regarded it as a huge opportunity. GTIIT is like a "clean slate", you can shape it the way you would like to.
Yigal Achmon
When I first came to China, I think Chinese pronunciation is quite difficult; but now I have the Chinese name "依高" given to me by my students and can pronounce it well. I also gave my students Hebrew names in return. Foodwise, I love spicy dishes and hot pots. Shantou is an amazing city with friendly people. In the beginning, I was so busy just finding my place here and didn't have time to explore. When I went to the city, I didn't know how to pay via Wechat or Alipay. Fortunately, a person took me on his bike, sent me to the bank, and helped me take out some money.
Could you use three keywords
to describe GTIIT?
My answer is pioneering, innovative, and excellent.
First, GTIIT is the only China-Israel cooperative university of science and technology. Its establishment is unique and pioneering. Second, we develop students' innovative and questioning skills by incorporating the "problem-driven" paradigm. We encourage students to ask questions, think out of the box, and tackle issues from various angles. As for excellence. I always tell my students, "Try to aim higher, otherwise, you will never reach." I hope they will have an excellent academic performance.
Besides all that, I think that GTIIT is a bridge between cultures. There have been many collaborations between China and Israel, among which GTIIT is and will be most active.
Why did you choose to teach in Biotechnology and Food Engineering?
I started by teaching Introduction to Biochemistry and Introduction to Food Engineering in the first year I came to GTIIT. It was very challenging because before that I did some teaching work, but not a lot, and it turned out to be extremely rewarding. It's very interesting to engage with Chinese students, who are quite different from Israeli ones. I'd like to see them develop from being shy and just listening, to being able to conduct amazing projects at the end of the course. We have done the poster presentation project, through which we could see how they think and innovate out of their comfort zone.
Dr. Achmon graded students' posters
For me, teaching is also a part of the whole personality of a researcher. We try to advance human knowledge and solve real problems, finding all kinds of new natural rules and new phenomena. Biotechnology and Food Engineering (BFE) deals with biological issues and environmental issues, which are both heated-discussed topics of human beings.
Do you think your discipline is more applied or more theoretical?
It's like asking a mother which of your kids you like more. In GTIIT, students will learn both.
In BFE, we give biological solutions to global issues like climate change. The world has no problem continuing without life (e.g. human life, bacteria will probably survive). But as we are supporting life, mainly human life, we want to strive for human well-being in our society. We want people to live a good life – to be healthy, with enough food on their plate and continuing culture. That's our position.
Dr. Achmon shared in CIEF 2021
Our students will get a chance to work on the most important issues for our time. Research in BFE can be generally twofold: on the one hand, we focus on the environment and health. For instance, we are searching how microbes respond to the environment as a general and to human activities; on the other hand, we focus on food. For example, I am doing a research on the food waste produced by organizations. I think this phenomenon will never disappear. As long as people are eating, there will be food waste. What we searching for are smarter ways to use this food waste than just throw it away.
I've always told my students that it is their challenge to tackle those issues, while my challenge is to teach them how important this challenge is and provide them with useful tools to do so. Because otherwise, our next generations would suffer.
What is your teaching philosophy?
As a teacher, my core goals are to transfer knowledge and educate students. Some of my students are also working in my lab, and we are going into a whole different level of interaction, which is extremely exciting. I feel like being a farmer, planting seeds and harvesting crops. It gives me a sense of accomplishment to see them growing from freshmen to real scientists, who are doing interesting projects independently.
Dr. Achmon taught students in Open Day
I encourage my students to explore. As an old saying goes, "give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; give him a fishing rod and you feed him for a lifetime". I try to engage them, spice the contents up with humor to attract students, and create an environment that encourages everyone to share with all the others. When students come and ask questions, even if I know the answer, the first thing I told them is "I don't know", followed with "let's find out together". It is a learning process. I will find some articles, even high-level ones, send those to them, and we solve the question together.
What is the best way to study for your class?
Generally, it's the two things people do all day: reading and thinking. You need to know how to put what you learn into practice so that you can apply it in any sort of a different aspect of the area. More importantly, learn to ask for help. There are always students who are either too shy or too proud to admit they don't know. However, if they don't ask, they won't get the answer. All human beings are making a lot of mistakes. If you don't know something, there will be someone who can help you.
Another thing that you cannot overlook is self-discipline. Today, all kinds of things are distracting you away. Students need to tell themselves that it is now the time to concentrate on learning. Besides, they need to maintain a life-study balance. Students need to spend time doing activities, both physical and social, that can help them complete their tasks more effectively.
Facing many demands on your time, how do you determine your priorities?
Things can be categorized via two standards: important or not; urgent or not. For urgent ones, you must act immediately; for important ones, you have to make ongoing efforts to perform well enough. For students in their freshman year, for instance, study is both urgent and important. Thus, it should be prioritized. There are techniques for improvement but what will work is very dependent on the individual. I am just providing a general direction.
Yigal Achmon
I hope students could find their safe zone and relax. For me, running makes me happy. Some may choose to play instruments or practice meditation.
Overall, I believe that when organizing things, you should consider not only things that are urgent and important but also those things that will help you to improve your mental health. If students are aware of this, they will find a good balance.
Do you have any other suggestions for GTIIT students?
I hope they will be proud of GTIIT. It is their legacy that will determine what this institute will be in the future. I really wish that in 20 years, they can say "I'm from GTIIT" with pride and a sense of accomplishment. I hope GTIIT can be a fertile ground for exciting things.
文/图：GTIIT传媒与公共事务部
Text/Photos: GTIIT News & Public Affairs
▲关注广东以色列理工学院，开启探索理工世界之旅