Faculty Features | 钟子宜：当一名好老师是一项长期的“研究课题”
广以教师专访
Faculty Features
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。
钟子宜
广东以色列理工学院
化学工程系教授
2022年斯坦福大学发布的“全球前2%顶尖科学家榜单”中，广东以色列理工学院化学工程系教授钟子宜入选“终身科学影响力排行榜（1960-2022）”和“2022年度科学影响力排行榜”。来到广以之前，他在美国、以色列、新加坡等地有着长达21年的科研工作经验；来到广以之后，他从一位“科研达人”转变为一位受学生尊敬爱戴的老师。是潜心科研难度更高，还是教书育人挑战更大？下面，让我们一起走进钟教授与广以的故事。
三尺讲台，心存敬畏
钟教授任教化工专业的主要课程“化学和生物化学反应器的设计”，他表示，如何胜任“教师”这个角色是自己长期的“研究课题”。做研究出身的他在上课时会将自己的经验倾囊相授，把二十余年的科研心得浓缩为“干货满满”的课堂。除了讲解基础知识之外，他常常将自己在研究中看到的相关文献结合在教学里，举例告诉同学们知识可以怎么应用，这个方向和领域发展到了什么地步，还有什么可以突破的地方。在钟教授的课堂上，同学们不仅能学到书本上的知识，更能将视野投向学界与业界前沿，在理论和实践的学海中不断成长。
教师的身份让钟教授肩负了一份新的责任。“很多东西你自己知道，但要能让学生听得清楚明白，讲得更有逻辑和趣味又是另外一回事。做科研你可以沉浸在自己的世界里，但老师要把自己知道的知识传授给学生，还要让学生对你讲的内容感兴趣，这是科研和教学最大的区别。”钟教授表示，当老师需要花费更多时间，但看到学生实实在在学到知识，自己很有成就感。
课上，他是为学子传道授业解惑的引路人；课后，他不遗余力地为学生的成长铺路搭桥。“我做了三年学习顾问，跟成绩比较落后的学生一对一面谈，为他们量身定制课表。编排一份课表至少要花一个小时，我要检查他哪些知识还没学好，找出他们学习出现困难的原因，再给出我的建议和帮助。”申请季期间，钟教授为不少大四的学生写推荐信。“如果同学们有机会去更好的学校深造求学，这对他们的前途来说是个很好的开始，我很乐意为此提供力所能及的帮助。”
钟教授用自己的言传身教向学生传递“科研不应急功近利，要允许失败”的观念。“我告诉组里的学生不用有压力，本科期间参与科研更重要的是开阔眼界。如果能有好的结果，当然是锦上添花，如果没有也没关系，收获一段经历也是很有意义的。我非常支持同学们去跟不同的导师学习，不同方向的知识对同学们未来选择职业或者研究方向是很有帮助的。”
始于兴趣，成于求索
本科时期的毕业论文成为钟教授走上科研之路的萌芽，然而，在研究领域的选择上，钟教授表示，自己当初也和现在的不少学生一样，有过“摇摆不定”的阶段。
在加入广以之前，钟教授主持和参与了多个与材料科学、废水处理、制药等相关的工业研究项目。“我本科的毕业论文研究催化的方向，但我在做博士后的时候，几乎没有一个项目与催化相关，在其他方面倒是接触了不少。如果我没这些经历的话，很多跟材料相关的内容我可能不熟悉。”钟教授认为，做科研不需要去限制自己的方向，可以多了解、多涉猎，但尽量要找到自己“拿手”的领域钻研下去。
“我在国内才知道大家担心化工专业不好找工作，但其实在国外，比如美国、新加坡，化工专业是非常好的专业，无论是就业还是薪资水平都很可观。化工在石化、制药、半导体等行业都有所应用，同学们不必限制自己的选择。”钟教授表示，广以化工专业的课程设置涵盖物理、材料等方面，与国外很多名校使用同样的教材。化工系的老师们有各自擅长的领域，能在不同的方向给同学们提供帮助。“学生们不用担心，在广以打下的基础足够扎实的话，去到国际上的顶尖院校是没有问题的。”
“科学是需要灵感的，如果你没有灵感，或者在看到一些东西时，什么都发现不了，这也是个问题。我上大学的时候，经常去听学校举办的各种主题的讲座。在很多领域我是个‘门外汉’，有时候学点新知识也挺有意思的。”工作之余，钟教授喜欢看书、听音乐、做瑜伽、爬山，在感受自然之美的同时也把科研的目光投向环保领域。
钟教授在广以牵头成立了“绿色催化及能源实验室”，主要从事多相催化、清洁能源和储能材料、废水处理、表面化学领域的研究。“我希望能在原有的技术上开发一些新的催化剂、新的工艺。通过二氧化碳的催化转化和甲醛的催化氧化，让化石燃料的转化效率更高，条件更温和，减少碳排放，降低污染，甚至是把污染的废物变成有价值的东西，这将极大地改善环境。”
教师寄语
希望同学们能在日常生活中广泛涉猎不同领域的知识，做一个思想不呆板、有趣的人。
GTIIT Faculty Features
广以教师专访
Teachers are like the lighthouse, enlightening all succeeding generations. They devote themselves to teaching and research, winning many students' respect and love.
The series of interviews with teachers 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.
Prof. Zhong Ziyi
GTIIT Chemical Engineering Program
On the list of the World's Top 2% Scientists 2022 released by Stanford University, Prof. Zhong Ziyi from GTIIT Chemical Engineering Program (CE) was named on the list of the "Career-Long Impact List" and the "Single-Year Impact List"(2022). Before joining GTIIT, he had 21 years of scientific research experience in the United States, Israel, Singapore, etc. At GTIIT, he has transformed from a scientific talent to a respected professor in the eyes of students. Which profession is more difficult and challenging, being a scientific researcher or a teacher? Let's walk into the story of Prof. Zhong and GTIIT.
Respect the role as a teacher
Prof. Zhong taught Introduction to Chemistry and Biochemistry Reactors' Design, the main course of Chemical Engineering Program. In his eyes, "How to be a qualified teacher" was his long-term "research topic". By distilling his 20-year research experience into teaching, he provides students essential and meaningful learning materials, including a combination of basic knowledge and the literature, as well as examples demonstrating how the knowledge could be applied, how far this field had developed, and what breakthroughs could be made. In Prof. Zhong's class, students not only gain knowledge from textbooks, but also explore the forefront of academia and industry.
As a teacher, Prof. Zhong has taken on a new responsibility. "To learn and to teach are different, not to mention teaching in a clear, logical and interesting manner in class. I can immerse myself in research, but as a teacher, I have to impart what I know to the students and pique their interest. That is the biggest difference between research and teaching." Prof. Zhong said that being a teacher took more time, but seeing students do learn something gave him a great sense of accomplishment.
In class, he is a guide to enlighten the students; after class, he spares no effort to pave the way for them. "I worked as an Academic Consultant for three years, talking with weak students one-on-one and tailoring class schedules to them. It takes at least one hour to make a class schedule. I check what they are not learning well, find out why they are struggling, and give my advice to help." During the application season, Prof. Zhong wrote letters of recommendation for many senior students. "If students have the opportunity to study in a famous university, it will be a good start for their future, and I'm happy to help in any way I can."
Prof. Zhong taught his students that "scientific research doesn't mean quick success, it should allow failure". "I told the students in my group that there was no need to put any pressure on them because it was more important to broaden their horizons by participating in research during their undergraduate years. If it comes out well, it's icing on the cake. It doesn't matter if you find nothing. I support students to study with different teachers, because exposure to knowledge from various directions is very helpful for students in making future careers or research decisions."
Start with interest,
fulfill with pursuit
The seed of Prof. Zhong's scientific research was planted in his graduation. However, he acknowledged that, like many students, he struggled with deciding on a research area.
Before joining in GTIIT, Prof. Zhong presided over and participated in a number of industrial research projects related to materials science, wastewater treatment and pharmaceuticals. "I studied catalysis for my undergraduate thesis, but very few of the projects I worked on while I was a postdoctor fellow were related to this direction. Instead, I was exposed to other parts of this area. If I hadn't had that experience, I might not be as familiar with materials studies as I am now." Prof. Zhong believes that doing research doesn't mean to limit one's direction. You can learn as much as you can, but try to find your expertise and delve into it.
"I know people in China are worried that it is difficult for CE students to find jobs, but in fact, in foreign countries, such as the United States and Singapore, CE graduates have excellent employment and salary levels. Students have a wide range of options because chemical engineering is widely used in petrochemical, pharmaceutical, semiconductor and other industries." According to Prof. Zhong, the curriculum of GTIIT Chemical Engineering Program covered physics, materials, etc., and used the same textbooks as many famous foreign universities. Professors at GTIIT had their own areas of expertise and can help students in different directions. "Students don't need to worry. If they can lay a solid foundation at GTIIT, they won't have problems studying in top universities worldwide."
"Science needs inspiration. If you don't have inspiration, or when you see something but find nothing, it is a problem. When I was in university, I often went to lectures on various topics. I'm a 'layman' in many fields, but it is interesting to learn something new." In his spare time, Prof. Zhong likes reading, listening to music, doing yoga, and climbing mountains. While feeling the beauty of nature, he also sets his sight on environmental protection.
Prof. Zhong set up the "Green Catalysis and Energy Lab" at GTIIT, engaging in the research of heterogeneous catalysis, clean energy and energy storage materials, wastewater treatment and surface chemistry. "I hope to develop some new catalysts and new processes based on the original technology. Through the catalytic conversion of carbon dioxide and the catalytic oxidation of formaldehyde, the conversion efficiency of fossil fuels will be higher, the conditions will be milder, carbon emissions and pollution will be reduced. This can even turn polluted waste into something of value. It would greatly improve the environment."
Teacher's Message
I hope the students can dabble in a wide range of knowledge in different fields in their daily life, and be an interesting person.
GTIIT
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文/图：GTIIT传媒与公共事务部
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