On 7th August, 2022, a strategic seminar on the development strategy of the engineering geology discipline was held in Changchun, hosted by the Bureau of Academic Work of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Department of Earth Sciences of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and the Engineering Geology Professional Committee of the Chinese Geological Society and jointly hosted by Jilin University, Chang’an University, the China University of Geosciences (Beijing), and the China University of Geosciences (Wuhan). Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Professor Peng Jianbing from Chang’an University, Director of Engineering Geology Committee of the Chinese Geological Society, Professor Tang Huiming, Vice Secretary of Party Committee of China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), 11 National Jieqing, 9 National Excellent Youth, and 11 National Talents of Engineering Geology Discipline, and more than 120 experts and scholars from 38 units of universities, research institutes, and enterprises across China attended this conference. The purpose of this seminar is to further refine the development strategy of the engineering geology discipline toward the 2035 national major strategy, which is held by the College of Construction Engineering of Jilin University.
The meeting was presided over by Professor Tang Huiming, Chairman of the Professional Committee of Engineering Geology of the China Geological Society and Vice Secretary of the Party Committee of the China University of Geosciences (Wuhan). Professor Tang Huiming warmly welcomed the arrival of experts and scholars and pointed out that engineering geology is a developing discipline. He hoped that this conference would be an opportunity to further improve the overall planning and systematic layout of the engineering geology discipline, strengthen the discussion on the development strategy of engineering geology, and clarify the development direction of the discipline effectively.
Academician Peng Jianbing of the Chinese Academy of Sciences delivered a speech at the meeting. Academician Peng Jianbing commended all scholars for their active participation in academic exchanges and seminars in the engineering geology discipline and encouraged them to actively participate in the construction of that discipline with the attitude of a master. Academician Peng Jianbing pointed out that it is necessary to summarize the history of engineering geology development and look forward to the future development direction in time. Engineering geology researchers should be deeply aware of the important role of their discipline in new technology fields and national major technology fields, exercise their ability to think systematically, expand their research horizons, pay attention to interdisciplinary crossover, and devote themselves to cultivating engineering geology talents in the context of the new era.
This meeting further defined the “Content System of the Engineering Geology Development Strategy Report”. Professor Li Changdong from China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Professor Hu Wei from Chengdu University of Technology, Professor Huang Qiangbing from Chang’an University, Professor Xu Ling from Xi'an Jiaotong University, Professor Liu Xiaolei from Ocean University of China, Professor Tang Chaosheng from Nanjing University, Professor Li Yanrong from Taiyuan University of Technology, and Researcher Qi Shengwen from the Institute of Geology and Geophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences respectively presented detailed reports on the content on behalf of the chapter writing team, including “Chapter 1: Scientific Significance and Strategic Value”, “Chapter 2: Development History and Current Situation”, “Chapter 3: Development Laws and Challenges”, “Chapter 4: Development Directions for the Next 15 Years, Section 1: Discipline Frontiers”, “Chapter 4: Development Directions for the Next 15 Years, Section 2: Demand-driven”, and “Chapter 5: Measures and Suggestions” .
Academician Peng Jianbing and Professor Tang Huiming commented on the content of each group’s report. The experts and scholars at the meeting had a lively discussion on how to improve each chapter and actively contributed to the preparation of the report.
In 2022, it will be the centenary anniversary of the Geological Society of China, and the discipline of engineering geology in China is steadily integrating into the tide of promoting national economic and social development, safeguarding national defense security, and enhancing national comprehensive strength and international competitiveness. This conference is of great significance to the field of engineering geology in China in terms of summarizing the discipline’s concepts, promoting disciplinary integration, and advancing disciplinary development.
Our university’s engineering geology discipline was founded in 1952. Professor Guochang Liu of Changchun Geological Institute established the first “Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology Department” in New China, which opened the way for higher education in engineering geology in our country. It has become the cradle of hydrogeological and engineering geological talent training in China and has cultivated many talented professionals in the field. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of our university’s geological discipline and coincides with the 70th anniversary of the establishment of Jilin University’s geological discipline. The successful holding of this conference will further strengthen the construction of our university’s geological resources and geological engineering discipline platform and will also play a positive role in enhancing the influence of Jilin University’s geological discipline.
