On October 18, the picture exhibition themed “World Without End,” part of the 11th Mois Franco-Chinois de L’environnement in Wuhan, kicked off in HUST. The exhibition was jointly organized by the China-EU Institute for Clean and Renewable Energy and the Consulate General of the Republic of France in Wuhan. Laurent Cuénoud , the Vice-Consul of the Consulate General of the Republic of France in Wuhan, Maxime Feraille, the Science and Education Attaché of the Consulate General of France in Wuhan, and Luo Xiaobing, the Dean of the China-EU Institute for Clean and Renewable Energy, attended the event. The Associate Dean of the China-EU Institute for Clean and Renewable Energy, Zou Mingqing, hosted the event.

On behalf of the institute, Luo Xiaobing extended a warm welcome to the delegation led by the Vice-Consul. In his speech, he highlighted that the China-EU Institute for Clean and Renewable Energy was the first significant cooperative project between the Chinese government and the European Commission in the field of engineering education. Over the past decades, the institute has achieved fruitful results through developing pragmatic collaboration with French universities. More than one thousand graduates cultivated by the institute have committed themselves into the energy industry in both China and France. In the future, the institute will continue to strengthen the pragmatic cooperation with universities and institutes in France, jointly addressing global challenges of environment and development.

During the presentation on the Mois Franco-Chinois de L’environnement and the picture exhibition, Laurent Cuénoud pointed out that the purpose of the event was to enhance public awareness and understanding of the challenges of ecological transition and current global environmental issues. Adapted from the comic of the same name, the exhibition humorously explored the relationship between energy and climate. Laurent Cuénoud also expressed his hope that more teachers and students would visit this fascinating and meaningful exhibition to reflect on the most severe challenges humanity faces in this century.

Focusing on the two main topics, energy and climate, Maxime Feraille conducted a live picture guide. Together with the participating teachers and students of HUST, they explored the causes and effects of climate disturbances and discussed possible ways to achieve harmonious development between humans and nature.

The group also visited the State Key Laboratory of Coal Combustion, where Professor Hu Song, Associate Professor Li Xiaoshan, and Dr. Wu Xin from the School of Energy and Power Engineering introduced several key systems in the lab. The introduction highlighted HUST’s responsibility as a first-class university to drive innovation in fulfilling major national strategies, addressing global environmental and development challenges, and achieving breakthroughs in key technologies for carbon reduction and utilization.

Founded by Embassy of the French Republic in 2014, the Mois Franco-Chinois de L’environnement consists of a series of multidisciplinary activities focusing on environmental preservation. The event is now an iconic achievement and an important display platform of French-Sino collaboration.

Written by: Zhou Ziyue

Edited by: Yang Kunjie, Chang Wen, Peng Yumeng