On the morning of October 27th, the “Qianning Learning Fund” donation ceremony was held in the Nisha Building of the Department of Hydraulic Engineering. Mr. Weiguo Zhao, graduated from Tsinghua University in1985, donated 3 million Yuan and set up the “Qianning Learning Fund” to encourage hydraulic engineering students to learn from Prof. Ning Qian’s spirit: studying hard, polishing talents, and serving the country.

The donation ceremony was hosted by Prof. Jianshi Zhao, the Vice Dean of the School of Civil Engineering. Ms. Wei Yuan, the Secretary-General of Tsinghua University Education Foundation, Professor Shuqin Li, former Party Secretary of the Department of Hydraulic Engineering, students of Prof. Ning Qian - Guangqian Wang, Xingkui Wang, Zhaoyin Wang, Lixin Wang - teachers, students, alumni, and representatives of the Department of Hydraulic Engineering and related departments came together to witness the establishment of the Qianning Learning Fund.

Mr. Weiguo Zhao sincerely expressed the original intention of the donation, “We must always remember those masters who have made outstanding contributions to the human society!” As the chairman of the Tsinghua Unigroup, Mr. Weiguo Zhao recalled his experience as a student at Tsinghua University and the process of striving with the Unigroup, encouraging the young generation to cherish time, work hard, and serve the country.

Ms. Wei Yuan, on behalf of the Education Foundation, expressed her gratitude to Unigroup and Mr. Weiguo Zhao. She also stated that any student who received the “Qianning Learning Fund” would be greatly encouraged. Ms. Wei Yuan also wished the students who were encouraged by Mr. Ning Qian’s scientific spirit and Mr. Weiguo Zhao’s entrepreneurial spirit to complete their studies and make contributions in different fields.

Mr. Lixin Wang, a former student of Prof. Ning Qian and the current director of the Water Resource Department of Guangdong Province, shared his learning experience in the last three years of Prof. Qian’s life. He recalled, “Although my mentor’s health was already very bad at that time, he was still leading the students, writing masterpieces, and working hard to control the sediments in the Three Gorges and the Yellow River.” As the last student of Prof. Qian, Lixin Wang has been rooted in Shenzhen for 30years after graduation. From basic level administrative work to the deputy mayor of Shenzhen and the director of the Water Resource Department of Guangdong Province, Mr Lixin Wang has always kept in mind the guidance of his mentor. He believes that with the new demand for water from the continuous development of the national water network ad urbanization, traditional water conservancy is rejuvenating. The water conservancy industry will undoubtedly have new development with the support of new engineering and information technology.

Prof. Shuqin Li, an alumnus of the class of 1970 of the Department of Hydraulic Engineering and former party secretary, expressed his three major feelings. First, Prof. Ning Qian is the pride of China, the pride of Tsinghua University, and a truly influential international master. This scholarship fund deserves its name. Mr Qian is a banner that inspires Hydraulic Engineering students to become talents and serve the country. Secondly, to promote Prof. Ning Qian is to promote a unique culture. The Big Dipper pillar in the Geological Corner is engraved with a handwritten script of Einstein Jr’s motto, which was translated into Chinese by Prof. Ning Qian. As Einstein Jr’s proud protege, Prof. Ning Qian is the only person who has a relationship with Einstein, a world-famous physicist, in Tsinghua University. Thirdly, Mr. Weiguo Zhao has made a prosperous career from being a poor student to the present, and he has made great contributions to the semiconductor industry. He didn’t forget his alma mater, and he also donates back to Tsinghua University, which is admirable.

Prof. Ning Qian’s student and Academician Guangqian Wang mentioned in his speech that Prof. Ning Qian had made three major contributions throughout his life. First, Mr Ning Qian brought Chine to the forefront of the world in the field of sedimentation. Secondly, he effectively solved some of China’s major sediment problems. Thirdly, he cultivated a large number of sediment talents so that sediments could continue to grow from a small subject. Everyone who has read Prof. Ning Qian’s books and listened to his lectures is proud of having him as a teacher. He believes that with the inspiration of Prof. Qian’s spirit, hydraulic engineering students will surely advance like the waves, and the water conservancy industry will also have a greater development.

Prof. Danxun Li, the head of the Department of Hydraulic Engineering, presented the commemorative donation nameplate to Mr. Weiguo Zhao. Prof. Tiejian Li, the secretary of the Institute of Sedimentation, presented the recording of Prof. Ning Qian’s party class in the 1980s to Mr. Lixin Wang.

After the ceremony, Mr. Lixin Wang gave an academic report entitled “Integrated Water Treatment Methods and Practices in Highly Urbanized Areas”.