On October 14th, Beijing Forestry University celebrated the appointment of Professor Hans Lambers, a distinguished fellow of both the Australian Academy of Science and the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. President Li Zhaohu attended the ceremony, which was hosted by Wang Tao, Vice-Chairman of University Council. Additionally, Pang Jiayin, a researcher from the University of Western Australia, was invited to the ceremony.

Li Zhaohu warmly welcomed Professor Hans Lambers, noting that his appointment as a distinguished fellow of both the Australian Academy of Science and the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences would greatly enhance BFU's role in supporting key national strategies such as ecological civilization and the "dual carbon" goals. Li emphasized the hope to combine Professor Lambers' extensive expertise and influence in plant nutrition, root ecology, and sustainable development with BFU's efforts in high-level talent training, cutting-edge research, cultivation of young scholars, and international talent recruitment. This partnership will strongly support the university’s high-quality development and strengthen its role in advancing global ecological civilization initiatives.

At the ceremony, Li Zhaohu presented Professor Hans Lambers with his appointment as a member of the BFU Development Strategy Advisory Committee.

Wang Tao presented an overview of Professor Hans Lambers' background and his collaborative endeavors with BFU. He highlighted how Professor Lambers' active participation in the 2024 Global Ecological Governance (Nansen) Conference, the Sustainable Development Conference, and the International Grassland Ecology Conference hosted by BFU, along with his appointment to the university’s Development Strategy Advisory Committee, significantly bolsters the institution's progress. These engagements are also a testament to BFU's strategic success in attracting and nurturing high-caliber talent amidst the evolving demands of the new era. Wang underscored BFU's unwavering commitment to a talent-centric growth model, underscoring the intensified efforts to recruit elite professionals that have already begun to show remarkable outcomes.

Professor Hans Lambers expressed his gratitude for BFU‘s warm welcome and invitation. He shared that the extensive collaborations between his team and many Chinese universities and research institutions over the years have achieved remarkable results, and he is honored to join BFU and looks forward to deepening cooperation in fields like discipline development, talent training, research, and platform building to make high-quality achievements.

The Dean of the College of Grassland Science, speaking on behalf of the host college, welcomed Professor Hans Lambers and affirmed support for his team’s collaboration and resource requirements. Representatives from relevant departments and faculty members from the College of Grassland Science were also present at the ceremony.

Professor Hans Lambers is a leading expert in plant physiological ecology and an Emeritus Professor at the University of Western Australia. He was elected to the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2003 and the Australian Academy of Science in 2012, dedicating his career to research and practice in plant physiological ecology. His expertise is highly compatible with our university’s strategic goals for advancing grassland science and related fields. Moving forward, Professor Lambers will focus on grassland ecological protection and restoration, as well as green development in the grass industry. Together, both sides aim to address key challenges in the field, bringing BFU’s insights to the forefront of grassland science.

Written by Li Shuyan and Jiang Ying
Translated and edited by Song He
Reviewed by Yu Yangyang