On January 18th, 2022, the Meeting of Environment and Energy Discipline Development Steering Committee of South China University of Technology and the Meeting of Technical and Academic Committee of National Engineering Laboratory of Volatile Organic Pollution Control Technology and Equipment/Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment and Pollution Control was successfully held in the form of video conference.

More than 70 people attended the meeting, among whom there were experts specially invited for the meeting, including Academician Hao Jiming of Tsinghua University, Academician Liu Wenqing of Anhui Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Academician Yang Zhifeng of Guangdong University of Technology, Academician He Hong of Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Academician Gao Xiang of Zhejiang University, and 16 renowed experts and scholars from Harbin University of Technology, Tongji University, Zhejiang University, Nankai University, Dalian University of Technology, University of Science and Technology of China and other domestic well-known universities in the field of environment. 13 representatives of the Vice Chairman unit of the National Engineering Laboratory, Zhu Yongdong, Director of the Development Strategy and Planning Department of South China University of Technology, Jiang Xinghua, Vice President of the Academy of Science and Technology, and other relevant core teachers also attended the meeting.

The meeting was co-chaired by Academician Hao Jiming of Tsinghua University and Dean Ye Daiqi of the School of Environment and Energy of South China University of Technology. At the meeting, Zhu Yongdong, Director of the Development Strategy and Planning Department of South China University of Technology, and Jiang Xinghua, Vice President of the Academy of Science and Technology, first delivered speeches on behalf of relevant departments of the University. Then, Dean Ye Daiqi reported on the discipline development of the School, mainly introducing the discipline development process, talent training, teaching staff and resources, scientific research and social services. Professor Fu Mingli, the next Director of the Provincial Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment and Pollution Control, reported on the development, R&D direction and progress, main research results, teaching team cultivation, operation and management of the provincial key laboratory. Professor Wu Junliang, Executive Deputy Director of the National Engineering Laboratory for VOC Pollution Control Technology and Equipment, reported on the acceptance, latest progress, future plans and tasks of the National Engineering Laboratory. During the discussion session, all specially invited experts and representatives of some Vice Chairman units of national engineering laboratories spoke in turn. They actively offered suggestions and put forward many forward-looking suggestions for the development of disciplines and laboratories of the School. Finally, Academician Hao Jiming concluded that the School of Environment and Energy of South China University of Technology should make full use of the special geographical advantages such as the background of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the special support of Guangdong Province for the development of colleges and universities, the leading role of the atmospheric environment of the Pearl River Delta in the country, and the expertise of South China University of Technology in VOC Control of key pollutants for air quality improvement. Combined with the industrial structure adjustment under the double carbon policy and its own advantages, the School should further strengthen the training of young teachers, cooperation and exchange of colleges and universities in Greater Bay Area, expansion of research directions, accumulation and improvement of teaching achievements, etc. Besides, the School should further clarify the discipline development objectives, give better play to the supporting role of the laboratory platform, promote the common development of teaching and scientific research. In this way, the discipline level is sure to be better improved.

The convening of this meeting is of great significance to improve the discipline level of Environment and Energy, further promote the construction and development of National Engineering Laboratory of VOC Pollution Control Technology and Equipment and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment and Pollution Control, and promote the exchange between academia and industry.