Recently, a video of a 98-year-old Chinese man conversing fluently and naturally in English with foreign tourists by West Lake has drawn widespread attention online. This confident and composed elderly gentleman is ZHOU Panlin, an alumnus of Zhejiang University (ZJU). With an open attitude toward communication, he transcends age and national boundaries, showcasing the vitality of Chinese elders to the world and vividly exemplifying the concept of lifelong learning through his actions.Z...

Professor XIONG Rong, a Qiushi Distinguished Professor at Zhejiang University and Chief Scientist of the Zhejiang Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, has received the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) “Women Shaping the Future of Robotics 2026” Award. Recognizing only 11 outstanding women worldwide each year, the award is among the most prestigious honors for women in robotics. Professor XIONG is the only recipient from China this year.Professor XIONG has spent 28 years advancing roboti...

The Chinese animation series “Boonie Bears” has enjoyed immense popularity for over a decade, expanding its reach from television screens to international theme parks. One of the primary architects behind this renowned intellectual property is not a traditionally trained artist, but DING Liang, a graduate of the Power Systems and Automation program at Zhejiang University. As an animation director and producer with a background in engineering, DING Liang has integrated engineering met...

Bird flu, SARS, HIV/AIDS … Many of the infectious diseases that have unsettled the world have one thing in common: they first emerged in animals. Birds, bats, monkeys and other hosts can carry viruses that, under certain conditions, cross the species barrier and infect humans. What makes such diseases so alarming is not only their impact but also their unpredictability. They often appear suddenly, evolve rapidly, and spread before clear warning signs emerge.That is why scientists around the wor...

A well-ordered campus, clean classrooms, and convenient daily life at Zhejiang University all rely on the quiet dedication of logistics staff. This International Women's Day, we shine a spotlight on three women whose everyday efforts bring extraordinary warmth to our campus.WANG Guoqin: 25 years of "Hellos", turning a supermarket into homeAt the Qiushi store on Yuquan Campus, it feels like more than just a place to shop—it's a warm home. For 25 years, store supervisor WANG Guoq...

A large fraction of the human genome is built from the remnants of ancient viral infections. Long dismissed as genetic clutter, these sequences are increasingly being implicated in early development. Now a team in China reports that a sub-family of these elements may help human embryos clear one of their earliest and most precarious milestones.In a study published in Science on January 22, researchers led by LIANG Hongqing at Zhejiang University’s School of Basic Medical Sciences and Women...

G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) are among the most important “signal receivers” in the human body, translating the external stimuli into internal signals that govern sensation, mood, cardiovascular function and metabolism. These seven–transmembrane-helix proteins are also pharma favorites. More than a third of marketed drugs act by nudging GPCR activity. But many therapies still aim at a familiar target region: the orthosteric pocket where natural ligands bind, and that approach can strugg...

The year 2026 marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Brunei. Against this backdrop, MA Yanming, President of Zhejiang University, led a delegation to Brunei from February 3 to 5 to further advance practical cooperation and strengthen ties with Bruneian partners.During the visit MA Yanming met with Hazri bin Haji Kifle, Vice Chancellor of Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD). In his remarks, MA Yanming outlined the recent development of Zhejiang Un...

A road connects the East and the West and links the past and the present. More than a route traced on the map, the Silk Roads have long been an epic road of mutual learning among civilizations. Today, that ancient corridor has gained a new landmark.On the afternoon of February 1, the UNESCO Chair on Silk Roads Heritage was officially unveiled at the Zhejiang University Museum of Art and Archaeology. Scholars and guests from China and abroad gathered to witness this milestone moment — one that br...

On February 6, a delegation led by Maurizio Martina, Deputy Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), visited Zhejiang University. REN Shaobo, Chairman of the Zhejiang University Council, met with the guests, and the two sides exchanged views on expanding cooperation.REN Shaobo welcomed Martina and his colleagues and briefed them on Zhejiang University’s recent progress and disciplinary strengths. He also reviewed ongoing ZJU–FAO cooperation in areas...