On the afternoon of July 2, 2025, the School of Materials Science and Engineering of Peking University held its 2025 Graduation Ceremony at the Li Ying Hall of the Centennial Memorial Auditorium. The event was attended by Professor Ruqiang Zou, Dean of the School of Materials Science and Engineering and Dean of the School of Advanced Materials at Shenzhen Graduate School; Ming Li, Party Secretary of the School; Professor Dingguo Xia, Chair of the Degree Committee; members of the school's leadership team; faculty and staff; all 2025 graduates; and their families. The ceremony was hosted by Jing Zhang, Deputy Party Secretary of the School.
Ceremony Highlights
Before the ceremony began, performances by the 2025 graduates’ representatives, including a band and a street dance show, brought youthful energy and vibrancy to the venue. A graduation video showcased the graduates’ cherished memories at the School, with heartfelt words expressing gratitude and reluctance to part with their teachers and alma mater.
Band & Street Dance Performances
Following the warm-up performances, the ceremony officially commenced with the solemn singing of the national anthem. Representatives of the 2025 graduates—undergraduate Zhenxiao Lv, master’s student Shanshan Ju, doctoral students Xinyu Deng and Genming Lai, and Frontiers of Engineering doctoral student Peimin Weng—shared a collective narrative reflecting on the journey of PKU materials students through the stages of “aspiration, energy accumulation, breakthrough, and dedication” at Yanyuan. From budding ambitions to tempered brilliance, each phase told the unique romantic story of materials science students, resolutely answering the call of youth in the name of PKU materials science.
Jing Zhang Host
Speech by Zhenxiao Lv, 2021 Undergraduate in Materials Science
Speech by Shanshan Ju, 2022 Master’s Student, SAM (Shenzhen)
Speech by Xinyu Deng, 2020 Doctoral Student, School of Materials Science and Engineering
Speech by Genming Lai, 2022 Doctoral Student, SAM (Shenzhen)
Speech by Peimin Wang, 2021 Frontiers of Engineering Doctoral Student, School of Materials Science and Engineering
During the ceremony, Dean Ruqiang Zou, Secretary Ming Li, Professor Dingguo Xia, Deputy Party Secretary Shaojun Guo, Vice Dean Huanping Zhou, Vice Dean Yinguo Xiao (SAM) and Assistant Professor Lianming Tong (SAM) presented awards to honor outstanding individuals and groups. Recognitions included “2025 Beijing Outstanding Graduates,” “2025 Peking University Outstanding Graduates,” “2025 Peking University Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation and Advisor,” the “Fourth Academic Top Ten” of the School, “Advanced Class Collectives,” “Peking University Outstanding Moral Education Award,” and the “School of Materials Science and Engineering Ideological Education Contribution Award.” These awards celebrated remarkable achievements by faculty and students across various domains.
Ruqiang Zou presents awards to 2025 Beijing Outstanding Graduates
Shaojun Guo and Yinguo Xiao present awards to 2025 Peking University Outstanding Graduates
Dingguo Xia presents awards to 2025 Peking University Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation and Advisors
Huanping Zhou and Tong Lianming present awards to the Fourth “Academic Top Ten” of the School of Materials Science and Engineering
Ruqiang Zou presents awards to the Advanced Class Collectives of the School of Materials Science and Engineering
Ming Li presents awards to the Peking University Outstanding Moral Education Award
Shaojun Guo presents awards to the School of Materials Science and Engineering Ideological Education Contribution Award
Mr. Xiaole Zhang, father of 2021 undergraduate Xuanyu Zhang, spoke as the parent representative. He expressed heartfelt gratitude to the faculty for their dedicated guidance and selfless devotion, encouraging graduates to stay true to their aspirations, uphold their ideals, and embrace national responsibilities. He urged them to make breakthroughs in scientific research and industrial frontiers and stand tall as the backbone of the nation with “true materials and towering strength.” To express gratitude for the School’s nurturing, Xuanyu Zhang’s parents presented a calligraphy painting to the School, with the prospect of growth and prosperity.
Speech by Parent Representative Xiaole Zhang
Zhang Xuanyu’s parents presented a calligraphy painting to the School as a commemorative gift
Dr. Min Kan, a 2015 alumnus and founder of Shenzhen Langmu Medical Technology Co., Ltd., spoke on behalf of alumni. Using the imagery of “the fire of academia,” “the fire of patriotism,” and “the fire of enlightenment,” he shared insights from his academic and entrepreneurial journey and encouraged graduates to guard the flame of sincerity in their hearts, maintain inner peace amidst a materialistic society, and find their own light in the darkest moments.
Speech by Alumnus Representative Min Kan
Associate Researcher Hao Pan from the SAM at Shenzhen Graduate School spoke as the faculty representative. Beginning with the theme “How to Navigate the Future Amid Challenges and Uncertainty,” he reflected on Academician Jiar Chen’s perseverance in scientific research, famously summarized as “ten thousand hammer strikes forge one fine instrument.” He encouraged students to embrace challenges with unwavering resilience, to cultivate their inner strength, to step forward and shoulder responsibilities when the times demand it, and to remain calm and focused amid superficial noise, dedicating themselves wholeheartedly to tackling core scientific problems.
Speech by Faculty Representative Associate Researcher Hao Pan
Other faculty members sent their blessings to the graduates through video messages.
Secretary Ming Li presented graduation gifts to student representatives, including adorable Peking University degree bears and insulated cups engraved with their names, congratulating them on their degrees and encouraging them to remember their roots as they forge ahead.
Secretary Ming Li Presented Graduation Gifts to Graduate Representatives on behalf of the School
Class advisors Huanping Zhou, Fanyang Mo, Yue Cui, and Hao Pan surprised the graduates with a heartfelt performance of the song Wishing You a Smooth Journey to send them off.
Faculty Members Performed the Song Wishing You a Smooth Journey
In the gratitude segment, graduate representatives presented flowers to class advisors, mentors, and administrative office staff, and gifted the School with commemorative presents. The graduates hand-built a model of the New Yanyuan Materials Science Building with blocks, symbolizing their wishes for the School’s bright future. A painting titled Reducing Entropy represented the collective aspiration of materials science students to strive, persevere, and achieve greatness together. Full-time graduates crafted the model, while Frontiers of Engineering doctoral students presented the Reducing Entropy painting.
Graduate Representatives Presented Flowers to Their Advisors
Full-time Graduates Hand-built a Model of the New Yanyuan Materials Science Building and Frontiers of Engineering Doctoral Students Presented the Painting Reducing Entropy
Amid warm applause, Dean Ruqiang Zou delivered a speech titled Pursuing Knowledge and Action, Advancing with the Nation. Representing the School, he extended heartfelt congratulations to the graduates, expressed gratitude to faculty, parents, and supporters, and offered three hopes for the graduates embarking on new journeys: to root themselves in faith, navigating changes with clarity and pursuing truth with determination; to build their capabilities, forging brilliance through practice and growing stronger through failures; and to foster collaboration, shaping the future with the warmth and solidity of PKU materials science, bringing certainty to an uncertain world.
Speech by Dean Zou
The ceremony concluded with all attendees singing Yanyuan Love together.
Group Singing Yanyuan Love
At the degree conferral segment, Dean Zou and Professor Xiaowei Zhan, Vice Chair of the Degree Committee, conferred degrees, adjusted tassels and took photos with each graduate.
The greatness of Peking University lies in its commitment to the nation and the world; the strength of materials science lies in building instruments for a strong nation. As the 2025 graduates bid farewell to their youthful years at Yanyuan, they embark on new journeys as “PKU materials students.” In the future, they will undoubtedly return as “pillars of the nation.” The School of Materials Science and Engineering welcomes them to come back home often!
Group Photo of All Graduates
