Penn State University Eberly Science College and Peking University Beijing International Mathematical Research Center

Cooperation Sign Memorandum of Cooperation.

 

BEIJING, CHINA – On November 2, 2018 at Peking University’s LinHuXuan, Penn State’s Eberly College of Science and Peking University’s (PKU) Beijing International Center for Mathematics Research (BICMR) celebrated the renewal of a five-year Memorandum of Agreement between the two institutions, to facilitate continuation of activities between the Penn State-PKU Joint Center for Computational Mathematics and Applications (CCMA). The memorandum was co-signed by Dean Douglas Cavener of the Eberly College of Science, accompanied by PSU Professor Jinchao Xu, Director of the PSU-PKU CCMA and PKU Vice-President Gang Tian, who also serves as the Director of BICMR, accompanied by PKU Professor Hu Jun, Associate Director of PSU-PKU CCMA. “Peking University and Penn State already have a natural overlap, with many of our respective alumni working at both institutions,” said Dean Cavener, during the signing. “This has been a fruitful collaboration that we look forward to continuing for years to come.” Vice-President Tian likewise noted the significance of the agreement: “I am delighted that Peking University will continue to work closely with Penn State. We hope that the signing of this memorandum will help promote many future collaborations between our two institutions.”

Picture 1 Dean Cavener and Vice-President Tian Gang co-sign the MOA (Photo: Peking University)

Penn State and Peking University have maintained a productive cooperative relationship since the original Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two universities in 2011, which outlined multi-layered cooperation, including collaborative degree programs, exchanges, joint research projects, and exchange of scientific research and information. Presidents from both universities renewed this Memorandum of Understanding recently. Penn State and PKU’s working relationship was deepened with the creation of the Penn State-PKU Joint Center of Computational Mathematics and Application in 2012. The objective of the latest Memorandum of Agreement is to continue collaboration on joint research projects and multi-disciplinary research in computational mathematics and applications. The center aims to serve as a hub for innovative research and global education, while providing an institutional umbrella for interacting with industry, government, and local communities. Previous collaborative projects include a $1 million research grant to Penn State from PetroChina (China’s leading oil and gas company) for efficient numerical algorithms for reservoir simulations. During this visit, Dean Cavener and Professor Xu met with Dr. Wu Shuhong from PetroChina to discuss follow-up collaborations.

Picture 2 In front of the PSU-PKU CCMA Office at BICMR. From left to right: PKU Professor Wu Shuo Nan, who completed his post-doc at PSU, Dean Cavener, Professor Xu, PKU Professor Jun Hu, and PKU Professor Wu Jin Biao, who was also a post-doc at PSU.

(Photo: Peking University)

Prior to signing the agreement, Dean Cavener and Professor Xu toured PKU’s beautiful autumnal campus and visited the working spaces of the CCMA and the BICMR. Professor Xu briefed Dean Cavener on the recent activities of the joint center and both stopped by a student-led seminar to meet several BICMR’s students and faculty members.

“Through the CCMA joint center, Penn State and PKU have committed to a strategic partnership to collaborate on advancing the research in computational and applied mathematics,” said CCMA director Xu. “We are looking forward to continuing our great work and providing joint research and innovation opportunities for students and professors from both institutions.”

Picture 3 Dean Cavener and Professor Xu and Professor Hu at the PKU’s Weiminghu Lake (Photo: Peking University)

Picture 4 Dean Cavener visits the mathematics students’ seminar (Photo: Peking University)

Picture 5 Dean Cavener and mathematics professors and students at the BICMR gate

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