On March, 10th, 2018, the third session of the Sixth Academic Committee of the state key laboratory RAL was held at NEU International Hotel in Shenyang. The meeting was presided over by Gan Yong, director of the Academic Committee. Nineteen committee members were present at the session, including Academician Wang Guodong, Academician Wang Yide, Academician Li Helin, and Academician Mao Xinping. Professor Tang Lixin, Vice President of Northeastern University, attended the meeting and delivered a speech. On behalf of Northeastern University, Tang thanked the committee members for their care and guidance to the state key laboratory RAL over the years, and recognized the achievements made by the teachers and students in RAL in 2017 under the administrative leadership headed by Director Wang Zhaodong and the academic leadership headed by Academician Wang Guodong. Currently the sound development of “The Collaborative Innovation Center of Steel Technology” is remarkable in spite of the financial difficulty, and “HBIS-NEU Industry Research Institute” has made new achievements. Based on the achievements of RAL, Northeastern University ranked No 1 in both the number of projects and the amount of funds in the “13th Five-Year Plan Basic Material Research Field Project”.
At the session, Prof. Wang Zhaodong, director of RAL, delivered RAL’s 2017 work report and introduced the preparations for the 2018 laboratory assessment. In his report, Wang Zhaodong gave a detailed introduction to the achievements made by RAL in 2017 in terms of scientific research, team building, personnel training, opening-up and exchanges, and laboratory construction, and meanwhile he analyzed the existing shortcomings of RAL and laid out a plan for future development. The committee members spoke highly of the achievements made by RAL, and put forward some constructive ideas and suggestions on the preparations of assessment report.
1. With obvious advantages in intelligent manufacturing of steel and non-ferrous metals, RAL should focus on the key project of the “13th Five-Year Plan” undertaken by its research team, continue to play a leading and guiding role, give full play to the advantage of close cooperation with enterprises, grasp the opportunities for intelligent manufacturing, and guide the development direction of steel and non-ferrous metal industry.
2. By grasping and adjusting the research direction of the laboratory and scientific positioning, RAL should further broaden its research field, continue to take national economic construction as the main battlefield, strengthen the training of leading talents, and carry out academic exchanges both at home and abroad.
3. Through summarization and promotion of basic research findings, RAL should broaden the paths and channels for the transformation of research achievements, strengthen independent innovation and collaboration, and play a leading role in the construction of “Double first-class” university.
4. RAL should further establish and improve the talent management system and assessment mechanism, so as to improve the quality and academic level of researchers, and promote the healthy and sustainable development of the laboratory.