Beijing Normal University

    Beijing Normal University (BNU) is one of the major educational institutions in Beijing. My friend Guoshun Zhuang, graduate of our Graduate School of Oceanography a decade ago, has been in the Chemistry Department there for nearly a year. This was my first visit to BNU, and indeed to any of China's universities. Here are a few scenes from BNU and vicinity.

The view from our window in the Foreign Experts' Building, which is another name for BNU's guest house. It was very much like a good hotel, and we enjoyed it considerably. It was quiet, and the air-conditioning kept us cool. Best of all, it was only a few steps to the Friendship Restaurant, where we ate many a fine meal during those two weeks.

This is a typical view of the street adjoining the university near our accommodations. The university is on the right.

Here is our little ad hoc group outside the Chemistry Building. From left to right: ???, Kelly, me, Guoshun Zhuang (our host), and Jinghua Guo, Guoshun's prize student. Jinghua just received her bachelor's degree in chemistry this June, and will be working with Guoshun on the project for a year. She plans to enter graduate school after that.

 

This was Kelly's first lecture of the trip. It was to Guoshun's undergraduate class in atmospheric chemistry, and its subject was her trip to Antarctica. A closer view follows.

You can see from the board that Kelly is telling the students something about climatic change and glaciers. She enjoyed giving this kind of lecture and was very good at it.

Back to Beijing