On Mar.24th, CHEN Zongji Scholarship Award Ceremony was held in Wuhan University of Technology(WUT). CHEN Zongji Rock and Soil Engineering Elite Class is co-built by IRSM and WUT. Director of IRSM researcher LI Haibo, Director of SKLGME, Chairman of CSRME researcher FENG Xiating, deputy Director of IRSM researcher SHENG Qian, vice President of WUT WANG Qiankun, President of Civil Engineering and Architecture College XIA Yuanyou, and more than 70 students and teachers attend the ceremony.

In the ceremony, vice President WANG Qiankun speaks first and thanks the support of IRSM in CHEN Zongji Elite Class. Director LI Haibo later in the speech, says that IRSM and WUT have a firm strategic partnership over the years, also have the great cooperation foundation and tradition in project cooperation and talent cultivation, hopes this class can cultivate talents on rock and soil mechanics and engineering in the future. Subsequently, deputy Director SHENG Qian declares the award list, and presents the prizes to these students. The scholarship award is one first prize (¥8000/person), three second prize (¥5000/person), ten third prize (¥3000/person), and ten honorable mention (¥1000/person).

After the ceremony, Director of SKLGME, Chairman of CSRME researcher FENG Xiating delivers report with the title Rock Engineering Science and Technology Development Opportunities and Challenges, by combining with the project, introduces the development history of rock engineering, the future development strategy and related problems. During the report, researcher FENG Xiating discusses AlphaGo, cloud computing, BIG DATA, 3D printers, and other hot issues, also introduces that CSRME sets up several awards for young people to encourage students. Also with the help of high level of scientific research platform, young researchers join to all kinds of research activities, greatly stimulate the research enthusiasm.

CHEN Zongji Rock and Soil Engineering Elite Class which is co-built by IRSM and WUT, is for the implementation of collaborative education action plan which is set by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Ministry of Education. This class promotes the cooperation between scientific research institutions and universities, complements the advantages and disadvantages, combines scientific research and talents cultivation, explores the new mode and mechanism of training, contributes to the development and progress of discipline.