Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) was recently the host venue for the Greater Bay Area (GBA) Cultural Heritage Laboratory project site meeting. SUSTech welcomed several important government leaders from cultural offices to campus, including Shenzhen Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism & Sports Bureau Director Chen Shaohua, Shenzhen Cultural Relics Management Office Director Qiao Yongqing, Center of Identification for Historical Relics Ji Duxue, and Shenzhen Charity Association & Cultural Relics Protection Public Welfare Fund Committee Director Wu Qianghua. SUSTech was represented by Acting Vice President and Director of the Office of Research Zhao Yusheng and Office of Research Deputy Director Wang Yawu, along with representatives from other departments at SUSTech.

The meeting was chaired by Institute of Advanced Studies in Social Sciences Dean Zhou Yongming, where he welcomed everyone to the meeting and briefed everyone about the GBA Cultural Heritage Laboratory.

Acting Vice President Zhao Yusheng pointed out the importance of the liberal arts to SUSTech, as they are a fundamental part of the development of its students through its multi-faceted scientific research approach. SUSTech has long believed in utilizing its resources to carry out cross-disciplinary research, and it is hoped that the GBA Cultural Heritage Laboratory will carry out unique research that produces excellent outcomes for the area. The GBA Cultural Heritage Laboratory aims to develop into an interdisciplinary, interregional, comprehensive research base to provide high-level scientific outcomes to promote the development of the GBA.

Shenzhen Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism & Sports Bureau Director Chen Shaohua stressed the importance of protecting cultural relics, as it related to State Council Statements last year. The GBA Cultural Heritage Laboratory is vital for the progress of Shenzhen’s cultural development, and will encourage active advocacy of new ideas, new models and new methods of protection for culturally precious heritage. The GBA Cultural Heritage Laboratory will see industry-university-social organization research that will strengthen social development and understanding of Shenzhen heritage.

Several SUSTech faculty members reported on the progress of the GBA Cultural Heritage Laboratory, including Professor Tang Jigen (Social Sciences Center) spoke at length about the plans for the GBA Cultural Heritage Laboratory once it is built across a range of fields. Academy of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies Research Assistant Professor Gao Dalun focused on the GBA Stone Sculpture Restoration Project. Professor Liu Qingsong (Ocean Sciences and Engineering) and Vice-Head & Professor Zhang Xinhai (Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering) discussed the cooperation between their two departments and the GBA Cultural Heritage Laboratory.

Following the meeting, participants visited the SUSTech Cultural Heritage Laboratory, where they observed the practices of several projects that are currently underway.