Faculty Features | 打球打到国家队，学问做在高分子
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。
材料科学与工程
高级教师
广以体育部
总监
“这是我在广东以色列理工学院的第三个年头，所以，我多做了一些不一样的东西。”Fabian Rios老师说。这位手握多项发明专利，连续两年获得广以“卓越教学奖”，在高分子材料领域颇有建树的学者，其实还有着另一重身份，他曾是以色列橄榄球国家队球员，带领国家队参加过无数国际赛事。
当高分子材料科学学者遇上橄榄球球员，这两个看似毫不相关的身份会在Fabian Rios老师身上碰撞出怎样的火花？
下面，是关于Fabian Rios老师的故事。
#奋进坚定的学生#
漫漫求学路，生活将我领向塑料行业
“一开始，我并没有选择高分子材料中的塑料行业作为我的研究方向，现在回想起来，似乎是塑料行业选择了我。”
Fabian Rios老师本科就读于以色列理工学院的电子工程专业。谈起那段求学的日子，他至今记忆犹新。作为一名年轻的移民学生，他不仅需要完成学习任务，还需要自己赚取生活费用。“为了不耽误白天的学习，我在当地的一家塑料制品公司找到了一份夜班工作，成为一名挤压机操作员。这或许是我和塑料结缘的开始。”
在那所公司，Fabian一呆就是15年，职位也随之节节攀升，选择离开公司时，他已是举足轻重的研发经理。Fabian坦言，一开始他并没有选择塑料领域，但这份工作使他逐渐发现了这一行业的魅力。于是在硕士和博士阶段，他选择了高分子材料作为自己的研究方向。从美国马萨诸塞大学毕业后，他回到高校，继续在这片他深爱的领域进行更深入的研究。
“我曾经来过中国，这个国家悠久的历史文化和热情好客的人民都给我留下了深刻的印象。我也听到了很多关于广以建设的好消息，对这所学校的设立感到非常兴奋。”谈及选择来广以的原因，Fabian表示，广以是一所小而精的学校，环境优美的校园，便利的生活设施，新旧文化在汕头这片土地交融，这一切都深深吸引着他。
丰富的行业内工作经历，使Fabian Rios老师的课堂独具特色。在广以，他的课程主要关于动量、热量和质量传递、高分子材料和复合材料的介绍以及聚合物流变学，深入浅出、幽默风趣的教学模式深受学生们的喜爱。“比起单纯的给学生讲解课本上的知识，我也喜欢结合工作中会遇到的实际问题，为他们提供关于这个行业的实用知识及技巧。”纸上得来终觉浅，绝知此事要躬行，他相信在这种授课模式下，学生能获得更多实用的知识。
#多才多艺的学者#
塑料和橄榄球，组成了我的生活
课堂上永远充满激情，课后也依然活力四射，是很多学生们对Fabian Rios老师的第一印象。
Fabian 与橄榄球的故事，要回溯到他十五岁那年，那是他第一次感受到这项运动的魅力。当时，还是学生的他加入了以色列理工学院的橄榄球队，白天忙于学业，晚上和周末还要勤工俭学并兼顾球队的训练。这看似是不可能完成的任务，他凭借着热爱与努力坚持了下来。几年后，他成为了学校橄榄球队的队长及教练。是金子总会发光，在各大赛事上崭露头角的他很快得到以色列橄榄球国家队的赏识，成为其中领导球员。在国家队期间，他和球队代表以色列参加了橄榄球世界杯预选赛等各大国际赛事。在现役球员时期结束后，他继续在橄榄球领域执教。他的教练生涯持续数年，曾担任过以色列青年橄榄球国家队及以色列理工橄榄球队的教练。
目前，Fabian是广以体育部负责人，主要负责校内各类体育赛事及课程的组织。“来到广以的第三年，我想做一些不一样的事情。体育部的设立能更好的帮助学生们全面发展，拥有良好的身体素质。这符合以色列理工学院的教学标准，也适应了中国教育部的要求。”Fabian Rios老师解释道。
在体育教学方面，身为高分子材料学与橄榄球训练双料专家的Fabian还开设了触式橄榄球课程。比起以“暴力美学“为特色的传统橄榄球，触式橄榄球以更轻柔的方式，最大程度上保留了这项运动的激情。课程一经推出，就受到了学生们的热捧，广以橄榄球队也随之成立。
#传道授业的师者#
寻找清晰的目标，享受大学生活
“中国学生与以色列学生相比，保留了尊师重教的传统。这一点能够很好的帮助他们进行学习。”Fabian老师称赞道。在他看来，大学是人生中一段很美好的时光。“在这四年时间里，你会遇见传道授业的老师，始终陪伴你的朋友；你会接受各种新鲜的知识，参加各类社团活动，在这里你会寻找到你未来努力的方向。”
Fabian认为，中国是一个充满机遇的国度，这对于学生们毕业后的发展，是非常有利的。“中国正在飞速的发展，因此产生了很多需要创造的事物，需要改进和修复的领域，这正是科学家与工程师们的职责所在。“作为老一辈的科学家和工程师，Fabian表示，他们在过去的几十年里创造出许多的东西，但这些东西还有很多需要改进的空间。”就拿我所从事的高分子材料领域来说，塑料作为其中重要的一份子，在过去给人类带来了许多便利，但也造成了巨大的环境负担。改进这一缺点则是新一辈科学家们需要努力的方向。“
在漫长的科研道路上，Fabian老师将“努力工作，但享受努力的过程。”一直当作自己的座右铭。人生就像在攀登一座高山，一个好的登山者，他不仅会把登顶当作自己的目标，也会喜欢攀登这个过程。在这个过程中需要跨越冰冷的小溪，需要踏过层层荆棘；有时候到达一个高峰后，还需要往下走，去攀登更高的山峰。科研与人生之路也正是如此，学会享受努力的过程，才能在这条路上走得更远。
Fabian老师也给广以的学生们提出了一些建议。“在繁重的课业压力下，保持良好的心态最为重要。从心理学的角度来讲，要获得幸福，最重要的途径之一就是要拥有目标感。明确自己努力的方向，树立清晰的目标，有计划的进行学习，享受努力的过程。“他希望，每一位广以学生都能找到属于自己的领域，创造出一个更美好的世界。
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.
Materials Science and Engineering
Senior Teacher
GTIIT Sports Unit
Director
"This is my third year at Guangdong Technion-Israel Institute of Technology." Dr. Fabian Rios said. This scientist, who is co-inventor in various patents, has won the "Excellent Teaching Award" for two consecutive years and has a long and fruitful career in the field of polymer materials, has another identity. He was the a player of the Israeli Rugby National Team and has participated in numerous international competitions.
When a polymer material scientist meets the rugby player, what kind of sparks will these two seemingly unrelated identities collide with Fabian Rios?
Here is Dr. Fabian Rios’ story.
#The Hard-working Student#
Long way to the academic, life leads me to the
plastics industry
“I actually started studying electronics but life took me to plastics.”
Dr. Fabian Rios majored in electrical engineering at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. Talking about those days of university, he still remembers it vividly. As a young immigrant student, he not only needed to focus on study, but also needed to earn his own living. "In order not to delay my studies during the day, I found a job as a night-shift extruder operator in a plastic factory. This may be the beginning of my association with plastics."
In that company, Dr. Fabian stayed for 15 years, and his position also rose steadily. When he chose to leave the company, he was already a Research and Development manager. Fabian admitted that he did not choose the field of plastics at first, but this job made him gradually discover the charm of this industry. So, in the master and doctoral stage, he chose polymer materials as his research direction. After graduating from the University of Massachusetts, he returned to university to pursue further research in his beloved field.
"I have been to China before, and I am deeply impressed by the country's long history and culture. I have also been following the construction process of GTIIT and am excited about the establishment of this university. “Talking about the reasons for choosing GTIIT, Fabian said that GTIIT is a small but sophisticated place. Here we have a beautiful campus, convenient living facilities, old and new cultures intermingling together in Shantou, all of which fascinate him.
Rich working experience makes Dr. Fabian Rios' class unique. At GTIIT, his lectures are mainly about momentum, heat and mass transport, introduction to polymer materials and composites and polymer rheology. "Instead of just explaining the knowledge in textbooks to students, I also aim to provide them with practical knowledge and skills to tackle with issues at work." He believes that in this teaching mode, students can acquire more useful knowledge.
#The Knowledgeable Scholar#
Plastic and Rugby are both my life
His class is always full of passion, and he is still full of energy after class, which is the first impression that many students have of Dr. Fabian Rios.
The story of Fabian and rugby started when he was fifteen years old. That is the first time he felt the charm of this sport. At university, he joined the rugby team of the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. As a university student, he needed to focus on study during the daytime, and on work and training in the evening and weekends. This seemed impossible but he persevered with love and hard work. A few years later, he became the captain and coach of the university's rugby team. The gold always shines. He was quickly recognized by the Israeli Rugby National Team and became a leading member of the team. During the time at the national team, he and the team represented Israel to take part in major international events such as the Rugby World Cup Qualifiers. After his active player period ended, Fabian continued coaching Rugby. Fabian has been a Rugby coach for several teams, including the Israeli Youth National Team and the Technion Team.
At present, Fabian is the head of the Sports Unit of GTIIT, the Unit mainly responsible for the organization of various sports events and courses at GTIIT. "The establishment of the Sports Unit can better help students develop in an all-round way and have good physical fitness. This matches with the teaching standards of the Technion and also meets the requirements of the Ministry of Education of China.” Dr. Fabian Rios explained.
In terms of physical education, Fabian also opened a touch rugby course. Compared with the traditional rugby which features “violent aesthetics”, touch rugby retains the passion of the game in a softer way. Once the course was launched, it was very popular among the students, and the GTIIT rugby team was also established.
#The Excellent Teacher#
Finding clear goal and enjoying university life
"Compared with Israeli students, Chinese students retain the tradition of respecting elders and teachers. This can help them learn," Fabian praised. For him, college is a wonderful time in life. "During these four years, you will meet teachers who impart professional knowledge and help solve doubts, you are accompanied by your friends; you will receive different kinds of knowledge and can participate in various club activities. Here you may find the direction of your future efforts. "
Fabian believes that China is a country full of opportunities, which is very beneficial to the development of students. "China is developing rapidly, so there are a lot of things that need to be created, areas that need to be improved and repaired, and that's the job of scientists and engineers." As an elder generation of scientists and engineers, Fabian noted that they have created many things in the past few decades, but these things still need improvement. "Take plastics as an example, this material has brought many advancements to humanity but it has also raised a huge burden on the environment. It is what our new generation needs to work on.”
On the long road of scientific research, Dr. Fabian Rios used "work hard, but enjoy the way" as his motto. Life is like climbing a mountain. A good climber will not only focus on his goal, but also enjoy the process of climbing. In this process, you need to cross the icy stream and step through layers of thorns; sometimes after reaching a peak, you need to go down and climb higher mountains. The path of scientific research and life is just like this. Only by learning to enjoy the process can you go further on this path.
Fabian also gave some suggestions to GTIIT students. "Under heavy academic pressure, maintaining a good state of mind is most important. From a psychological point of view, one of the most important ways to achieve happiness is to have a sense of purpose. Whatever you do, embrace your purpose and enjoy the way.” He hopes that every GTIIT student can find their own field and create a better world.
文/图：GTIIT传媒与公共事务部
Text/Photos: GTIIT News & Public Affairs
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