A Joyful Reunion

On April 1st, our research group hosted a warm and lively gathering to celebrate the birthday of Prof. Gan. Many alumni and long-time friends returned to join the event, making it a joyful reunion filled with laughter and shared memories.

Among those present were Shichun Zou, Jianhui Tang, Weihai Xu, Xiang Liu, and many other alumni, whose presence brought a strong sense of connection and nostalgia. It had been a long time since many had last met, and everyone greatly enjoyed catching up, sharing experiences, and reflecting on their academic journeys.

The gathering featured a series of well-prepared performances by group members. Yuxin Zhang, Xuelin Ren, Ning Zhang, and Xin Deng delivered delightful singing performances. Hangyi Zhao presented an engaging traditional Chinese “Guankou” performance, which was warmly received by the audience. As always, Weiru Wang brought laughter to the room with an entertaining stand-up comedy show, bringing the atmosphere to a highlight.

A particularly memorable moment came with a uniquely designed cake prepared by Yuxin Zhang. Featuring a creative and humorous message wishing that every member of the group will one day publish in Nature and Science, the cake symbolized the shared dreams and aspirations of all researchers. It quickly became a highlight of the event, drawing laughter and enthusiastic applause.

The gathering was thoughtfully organized by Jianchu Ma, whose efforts ensured the smooth and successful execution of the event. Overall, the celebration was filled with warmth and joy, further strengthening the bonds within the group and fostering a strong sense of community.

Shizhen Attended ACS Spring 2026 in Atlanta

Shizhen Zhao attended the American Chemical Society Spring 2026 Meeting, held in Atlanta, USA, from March 22 to 26, 2026. She was invited to deliver a presentation in the ES&T Award Session: James J. Morgan Early Career Lectureship on March 23, 2026.

During the session, she presented her recent work on tire wear particles (TWPs) and associated chemicals in the urban atmosphere, highlighting their environmental behavior and implications. The presentation stimulated in-depth discussions with researchers working on TWPs and tire-related chemicals (TWCs). The session was chaired by Bryan Brooks, Editor-in-Chief of Environmental Science & Technology Letters, who kindly invited participants for further informal discussions after the session.

At the conference, she had the opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with many leading scientists, including Zhenyu Tian, who first identified 6PPD-quinone. They engaged in detailed discussions on the environmental occurrence and transformation of TWPs and TWCs. In addition, she established new connections with researchers from North America, further expanding her international academic network.

During her visit, she also toured the laboratory of Douglas Walker at Emory University, guided by Dr. Kuangliang Shao. The lab is exceptionally well equipped, with seven high-resolution mass spectrometers, which was truly impressive.

Beyond academic activities, she visited The Coca-Cola Company and the Georgia Aquarium, gaining a deeper appreciation of Atlanta’s culture and landmarks. This trip marked her first visit to the United States and her first participation in an American Chemical Society meeting, and she was very lucky to have obtained her visa smoothly.