Groundwater is invisible, so it is easily forgotten. Although scientists have become alarmed by overexploitation and pollution of this precious resource, the public, in general, is not aware that groundwater is key to society’s water supply and food security. Furthermore, groundwater supports adaptation and builds resilience to climate change.

At the invitation of the China Institute at the University of Birmingham (UoB), Chair Professor Yan Zheng from the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) will deliver the Institute’s annual Li Siguang Distinguished Lecture for 2021.

The lecture, “Enhancing Groundwater Sustainability for Climate Resilience,” will be broadcast via video link at 20:00 CST on Thursday, 28 October 2021.

Professor Jon Frampton, Director of the University of Birmingham’s China Institute, said, “On the eve of world leaders gathering at COP26 in Glasgow to discuss the environmental challenges facing our planet, we’re looking forward to hearing Professor Zheng’s exploration of the important role that groundwater can play in securing precious water supplies.”

Professor Yan Zheng is a global expert in the geochemistry of hydrosphere studies and has published extensively on drinking water safety, environmental health, and sustainable development. Professor Zheng is from the School of Environmental Science and Engineering (ESE) at SUSTech.

The School of Environmental Science and Engineering (ESE) at SUSTech is committed to providing innovative solutions to multi-faceted environmental challenges facing humanities in the 21^st century from local to global scales.

SUSTech values global collaboration in scientific research and education.  We welcome you all to join the lecture and share your ideas with us.

2021 Li Siguang Distinguished Lecture

The talk will be followed by a panel discussion involving Professor Zheng and chaired by Professor Iseult Lynch, Professor of Environmental Nanosciences at the University of Birmingham. A range of speakers will join Professor Zheng on the panel, including:

• Professor Stefan Krause, Professor of Ecohydrology and Biogeochemistry – UoB;
• Dr. Shirley Ye, Lecturer in Asian History – UoB; and
• Dr. Mike Jones – Water Resources Modelling Lead, Thames Water.

The lecture will also be available for live streaming for free on YouTube, Facebook, and SUSTech’s Twitter account. It will also be posted to the University of Birmingham’s official WeChat platform on the same day.

Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech)

Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) is a research university founded by the Shenzhen municipal government in 2010, supporting China’s higher education reform agenda.  

SUSTech is ranked amongst the world’s top 200 institutions (#162 globally, #9 in mainland China) by Times Higher Education in 2020. It aspires to be a world-class research university by 2030.

University of Birmingham (UoB)

The University of Birmingham (UoB) is ranked amongst the world’s top 100 institutions. Its work brings people worldwide to Birmingham, including researchers and teachers and more than 6,500 international students from over 150 countries.

The history of collaboration between China and the University of Birmingham dates back almost to the foundation of the University in 1901. The China Institute was created to reflect the University’s extensive academic activities its colleagues undertake in China.