On October 19-27th, three of us (Zhizhen, Yangzhi and Gan) visited Pakistan , with the purpose of promoting and discussing air pollution research collaborations between the two sides. Gan gave lectures in six universities, including GC University of Faisalabad, Sargodha University, Punjab University, COMSATS University, Quaid-a-Azim University, National University of Science and Technology; and also visited the Confucius Institutes（孔子学院）in Faisalabad Agricultural University, Punjab University and Sargodha University, respectively. We were highly welcome in all the visited organizations/places, and Shizhen was always surrounded by students and local people for taking pictures together. We paid a day visit to Muree to the north of Islamabad to see the mountains of Kashmir Himalayas. We were also happy to meet Professor Riffat and Ali Syed who visited us in Guangzhou several and many years ago, respectively. It is a very memorable trip and we can feel the ironic friendship between people of the two countries!
Visiting Confucius College in Faisalabad Agricultural University.Lecture in GC University of Faisalabad.
Meet VC of GC University of Faisalabad.Lecture in the University of Sargodha.Meet with VC of Sargodha UniversityInterview in a studio on Sargodha University campus.Punjab University.Confucius College students in Punjab University.COMSATS.Lecture at COMSATS University.COMSATS.CAS Sino-Pakistan Centre in Quaid-i-Azam University.At the gate of Quaid-i-Azam University.
On top of Muree, against the Himalayas (Kashmir) mountains.Meet Professor Riffat and Ali Syed. Both of them stayed in our group.Yangzhi receives souvenir from a local friends.
From September 15 to 17, Professor Kevin Jones visited our group. On September 16, he delivered an insightful lecture on passive sampling of organic chemicals across different environmental matrices, with particular emphasis on the application of DGT for detecting these compounds in water. Although Professor Jones is a familiar guest to us, his presentations are always refreshing, and we consistently gain new knowledge from his insights. His visit not only provided a valuable learning experience but also offered fresh perspectives for advancing our research on environmental monitoring.
Shizhen with her two mentors in front of their joint publications.
Prof. Gan was giving an opening.
Prof. Kevin Jones was giving a academic presentation.
On August 25-September 6, Shizhen and Gan were invited to attend the 16th SETAC Latin /America meeting, which was held in Lima of Peru. They also formally visited the National Agricultural University of Peru, to deliver lectures and discuss about potential collaborations. This is their second visit to South America. Shizhen gave a talk on the SETAC meeting on tire-wear particles and microplastics, which attracted lots of attention. Gan had to man a poster prepared nicely by Yuwei, on HV-POPs. Gan met his old friend, Professor Ricardo Barra who is a ‘big name’ for POPs research in South America and Chili , to recall their last meet at Seoul some 12 years ago. Upon the invitation, as planned, of Professor Litveth, Gan gave a lecture over the staffs and students of the National Agricultural University, introducing the environmental research in SKLAET-GIG, with particular promotion of our long-term efforts on global atmospheric monitoring of POPs in developing countries. In between the academic meetings, we also take chance to visit the Peru plateau of the Andes （安第斯山脉的秘鲁高原）where there are exciting historical relics and spectacular natural sceneries. One of our main targets was the ancient terraced crop field left by the Incas（古印加人）, some last for hundreds and even more than a thousand years. It was a pity that, as these ancient fields are strictly protected, we were not able to collect soil samples for Jiang Fan’s study. However, Professor Litveth happily offered help to us with this topic in future collaboration. Notwithstanding, we succeeded in collecting a few saline water samples from an ancient Inca salt field. Despite the tough experience in the long trans-continent flights, it does is a great and enjoyable trip.
At the main venue of the SETAC meeting.
Shizhen gave an oral presentation on TWPs.The microplastic session presenters.Manning the poster prepared by Yuwei.Gan met his ‘old’ friend, Professor Ricardo Barra of ChiliMet with Dr Arias Andres who is the representative of Argentina to the Stockholm Convention and the Plastic Convention negotiation. He once worked with Roland Weber.The National Agricultural University of Peru.
Lecture in National University of Agriculture.Presenting our gift to Professor Litveth, who is the dean of Chemistry School and an environmental scientist.The lecture attracted many students, signifying the powerful impact of ChinaThe national flower of Peru.A countryside girl.At a 4319 masl mountain path on the Peruvian plateauA site with ancient terraced paddy fields.The Murray ancient agricultural experimental site of the IncasA saline water sample collected at the ancient Inca salt-field.The Secret Valley was one of the main agricultural areas of the Inca Empire.Shizhen checked potential lichen samples on rocks on the Peruvian plateau.Open biomass burning as a traditional agricultural practice on the Peruvian plateau.Of welcoming ceremony of the SETAC meeting.
