CIBR Hosts 2021 Opening Ceremony to Welcome New Students

A ceremony on 3rd Sep. marked a big day for all the 31 new Ph.D. students of CIBR in 2021 ——the official opening of both this fall semester and their brand new journey of the scientific discovery.

Dr. Rao Yi, the Co-Director of CIBR, addressed to welcome all newcomers, and encouraged their efforts to promote CIBR to the leading institute in Chinese bio-scientific, or at least neuroscientific field.

The Co-Director Dr. Luo Minmin then introduced the current condition of the institute from the aspects of personnel, in-house resources and cultural construction. Now CIBR has established 25 independent laboratories and 11 core facilities, with nearly 400 members in total. In the future, the Institute will recruit more PIs focusing on the principle of cognition, computational neuroscience, neuropathy and neurotechnology, etc. Co-building platforms for developing Brain Computer Interface (BCI), mental disease diagnosis & treatment, and children growth are also raised on the agenda. “We will have more PIs to join us,” said Dr. Luo. “And we will definitely make a further step in not only the research of cognition, but also of mental illness and brain-like computing.”

“Our PIs are all making concentrated efforts on their lab construction, and the in-house supportive system made up of the core facilities also began to take shape,” Dr. Luo added. “Next we are going to build the specific facilities for IC design and brain inspired intelligence. Platforms for BCI are also being considered.”

Besides, the PhaseⅡ building of CIBR has been carefully designed and is under construction now, and will officially go into service around next April or May at the latest. It covers an area of over 50,000 m2, with more advanced labs and facilities, and even its own dining hall for all students and staff. Better research environment can surely be expected in the future.

At the end of his speech, Dr. Luo specially mentioned the most typical culture of the Institute: Enjoy Science. CIBR takes the pursuit of science and truth as its supreme goal, and science always takes precedence over authority.

Carlos Ibanez, Associate Director for Academic Affairs, also delivered his welcome speech:  

When I was about in the middle of my undergraduate studies, I decided that I needed some laboratory practice. So I joined a lab that was studying Drosophila genetics. The Prof. there his name was Enzo, Prof. Enzo Muñoz. He was an old-school geneticist, with rather conservative views. We talked often. He was talking about science. I remember one thing he said once: “There are no boring topics in science, there are only bored scientists.” I thought at that time he was defending himself a little bit. (Laugh)

Then I understood that he was actually talking about something more profound. You are at the first step of a very tall ladder. I’m talking now to the new students that join us this year. I’m still climbing that ladder, and so do all my colleagues at CIBR. But you are at the first step, the very first step. You are not yet a scientist, but you will become a scientist at the end of your Ph.D. And that should be your focus. Not the topic. The topic is not so important at this stage and will become important later. Not even methods or techniques, you will learn them whether you like it or not. But to become a scientist is the key in the years ahead of you. How to think about science. How to find what is important and what is not. How to organize your literature. How to… It’s endless. It’s about mental growth. So you have to come out from your Ph.D. as a different person. If you are not a different person, then something didn’t go well in your Ph.D. You need to find an environment that nurtures this intellectual growth. Find a mentor that has time to spend talking to you about these issues.

You have chosen the best way to spend your life. Science and art, music and literature, these are the four things that make us human, these are the highest expression of humanity. And science is the best way you can spend your life. I will leave you with one final thought that I hope you reflect on it during your life: science or to be a scientist is not a job. It’s not even your profession. It’s a lifestyle. It’s a way to live your life. Work well. Thank you.

The host of the ceremony Dr. Chen Jian, new PI Dr. Zhao Hu, postdoctoral representative Liu Zeyue, and student representatives Cao Penghui and Lin Huixin also shared their experiences and feelings since joining CIBR.

Then came the presentation of the outstanding student leader awards by Dr. Mao Junwen, the Scientific Research Head.

After the ceremony, students from different labs displayed their research achievements with well-designed posters, and also communicated with each other on their research interests.