The sixth luncheon in the series and its third international faculty session
At noon on 6 November 2026, the School of Earth Sciences and Engineering at Nanjing University held its sixth Exploring Earth Luncheon in Room AD23 of the Zhu Gongshan Building. Jointly organised by the School’s Office of International Cooperation Affairs and Student Affairs Office, it was the third session dedicated to exchanges with international faculty. The luncheon supported the School’s “Three Rooms and One Hall” initiative and its commitment to education and character development. It aimed to create an inclusive setting for collaboration and enable international faculty to participate more directly in student mentoring.
The invited guests were Professors Alexander Nemchin and Anatoly Belonoshko, both recognised under national high-level talent programmes; Associate Professor Shohei Hattori; and postdoctoral researchers Victor Ribeiro and Alessandro Paolo Carniti.
Associate Professor Hattori opened the event by explaining its purpose: to help students develop an international academic outlook and cross-cultural communication skills, while enabling international faculty to become more involved in the School and in student mentoring. He also introduced the Office of International Cooperation Affairs and its work. Each of the five guests then briefly introduced themselves and their research.
Some students were initially hesitant to approach the guests. With encouragement, they gradually began asking questions about their studies and research. As the atmosphere relaxed, lively conversations developed around broadening global perspectives, international academic exchange, academic English and communication skills, and plans for further study and careers abroad.
Students in conversation with international faculty and researchers.
The luncheon welcomed both undergraduate and postgraduate students. With recruitment underway for the Undergraduate Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Programme, many undergraduates came to learn about international faculty members’ research interests and projects and identify topics that matched their own interests. The conversations also helped potential supervisors learn about students’ interests and academic backgrounds, helping students and supervisors find a suitable match.
Postgraduate students brought specific questions about research and career planning. How can doctoral students sustain confidence and motivation when results and feedback take time to emerge? What are the emerging directions in geology, and where are the opportunities for interdisciplinary research? What should students do now to prepare for further study or employment overseas? These questions became a focus of the discussions, which developed into exchanges of experience and practical suggestions.
Li, a master’s student who had attended several of the School’s Coffee sessions with international faculty, said that earlier opportunities to introduce herself, ask questions and follow up had helped her build experience. At this luncheon, she felt noticeably more confident and at ease when speaking with the guests.
The School has made internationalisation a priority in recent years and established regular opportunities for students to meet international faculty face to face. These exchanges allow international colleagues to support students’ research development as mentors alongside their classroom teaching. Through the Exploring Earth Luncheon and related activities, the School will continue to help students develop the global outlook and capacity for innovation needed for future work in the geosciences.
Students and guests at the Exploring Earth Luncheon.
