Prof. Lin Danming, Pro-Vice Chancellor and also Party Branch Secretary of GTIIT, gave a wonderful speech for all freshmen on Monday.

The year of 2020 is special. Prof. Lin highlighted the country's efforts in fighting the pandemic by mobilizing the whole country. "Since the outbreak, the Chinese Government and people, united and undaunted, waged a people's war against the virus."

He said that, since the Covid-19 pandemic, all the GTIIT colleagues have been caring for each other, contributing to the university's anti-pandemic task, and keeping the safety of the campus together. "We are deeply moved by the sincere friendship between China and Israel, and between GTIIT teachers and students in our fight against the virus."

Prof. Lin continued the speech with a series of memorable photos and three precious videos about GTIIT's development history.

Prof. Lin then enumerated a list of data about GTIIT, encouraging freshmen to work hard to achieve their dreams: GTIIT is the first sino-foreign cooperative university introducing high quality educational resources from Israel; over 60% staff are from Technion; more than 90% faculty members come from foreign countries; the value of scientific research equipment is 210,000 yuan per student...

Prof. Aaron Ciechanover, Nobel Prize Winner and Special Envoy of the Technion President to GTIIT, and Prof. Eliezer Shalev, Vice Chancellor of GTIIT pointed out in the letter that the Technion will continue providing firm support to GTIIT to ensure GTIIT can maintain the same high academic standards as those we maintain at the Technion in Israel. They further noted that the Technion will work closely with GTIIT to enhance the reputation, resource base and operation of GTIIT, so that students with high quality and great potential will continue to be educated at the best world institutions under the tutelage of leading and world class faculty. Prof. Lin encouraged the students to work hard to live up to two professors' expectations. "You should remain curious to explore the unknown world till you fall in love with something you want to search in depth and become your expertise."

"We adopt question-driven method in class, encouraging students to raise questions bravely, which is the essential feature of GTIIT teaching and an important part to cultivate our students' scientific insight." Prof. Lin also shared the story of Mao Zedong's discussion with Qian Sanqiang, a renowned physicist, with regard to the internal structure of the atom from the perspective of philosophy, encouraging students to make bold assumption and focus on significant scientific issues.  He also talked about general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Xi Jinping’s message delivered on the scientists' meeting several days ago. "Scientific research, especially basic research, always starts from scientists' curiosity to explore the nature. Outstanding scientists' success can't be achieved without their curiosity, ambition and lifelong exploration", Prof. Lin quoted Xi’s speech, encouraging the new students to cultivate scientific insight and bravely explore the unknown.

Lin said that curiosity is the core to derive scientific truths. "I hope that all of you can find your passion and follow your heart. Start with curiosity, motivation will follow."