On September 23, the HENU Geography Innovation and Development Conference was held at Henan University (HENU) to commemorate the 100-year development of the discipline of Geography. The conference aimed to review the progress made over the past century and discuss future innovation and development in Geography. Distinguished guests including leaders, colleagues, experts, well-known alumni, as well as teacher and student representatives from across the country were invited to witness the rich legacy of Geography at HENU and engage in discussions regarding its innovative growth.

The Conference was attended by Runtian Li, former vice chairman of the Henan Association for Science and Technology and former president of HENU, Jiayao Wang, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Fahu Chen, chairman of the Geographical Society of China, Zhenyu Zhang, vice chairman of the Henan Provincial Committee of CPPCC, as well as representatives from universities in and beyond Henan, scientific research institutes, enterprises and governments. It also invited representatives from HENU, including vice presidents Zhen Tan and Shenglei Fu, as well as teachers, students and alumni representatives. The Conference was presided over by Shenglei Fu.

At the Conference, Zhen Tan pointed out that the discipline of Geography in HENU has now become a leading discipline in China and is influential in the world. According to her, HENU has been focusing on national strategies like “ecological protection and high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin,” “rural revitalization,” and “Central Plains urban agglomeration construction.” Scholars in Geography at HENU insisted on applying what they learned in the construction of China, making Geography a discipline and major regarding the Yellow River Civilization as a cultural characteristic.

Later, Fahu Chen extended warm congratulations on the convening of this Conference on behalf of the Geographical Society of China. He mentioned that many masters of Geography had taught at or graduated from HENU, such as Jinglan Feng, Jiuzhang Zhao, and Bosheng Zhang. He expressed that the discipline of Geography in HENU would continue to achieve coordinated development in the Central Plains and would reach greater progress in the future.

Then, Canfei He, director of the Teaching Steering Committee for Geographical Science Major in Higher Education Institutions of the Ministry of Education and dean of the College of Urban and Environmental Sciences at Peking University, pointed out that in the new era, Geography education should cultivate high-level talents in the construction of double first-class and the construction of national key majors.