Shandong University hosts an unveiling ceremony for the Department of Astronomy. [Photo/Shandong University]

Shandong University hosted an unveiling ceremony for the Department of Astronomy at the university's Weihai campus. The event was attended by nearly 200 scholars and experts from 36 renowned research institutions and universities, including the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Peking University, Tsinghua University, and the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The Department of Astronomy plans to leverage the Weihai Observatory of Shandong University, along with its field observation stations and laboratories, to conduct cutting-edge research on scientific challenges and to advance the development of state-of-the-art detection equipment. Furthermore, the department will play a vital role in nurturing top-tier innovative talent and fostering interdisciplinary research across astronomy, space science, and particle physics.

Ren Youqun, Party Secretary of Shandong University, said at the unveiling ceremony that Shandong University will take the establishment of the Department of Astronomy as an opportunity to advance the development of world-class disciplines in astronomy and space science.

Ren added that the university will focus on promoting interdisciplinary collaboration, building top research teams, advancing public science education, and fostering a "space+" academic community. These efforts aim to enhance its capacity for major scientific projects and contribute to national progress in astronomy and space science.

Ma Yugang, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Vice-President of Fudan University, expressed a desire to collaborate with Shandong University to strengthen fundamental research and enhance the country's scientific innovation capabilities, with the goal of making greater contributions to overcoming critical technological challenges.

Shi Shengcai, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a researcher at the Purple Mountain Observatory, CAS, emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation with Shandong University's Weihai Observatory to elevate the visibility of astronomy and space science in major national scientific research projects.

Zhao Gang, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a researcher at the National Astronomical Observatories, CAS, expressed his hopes that the discipline of astronomy and space science at Shandong University will continue to focus on nurturing top research talent, building advanced platforms, and promoting collaboration to become a leader in astronomy and space research.

In recent years, Shandong University has achieved significant progress in the field of space physics, playing a crucial role in major national scientific projects, such as the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System. The university developed the nation’s first-generation domestic equipment, including a spectral imaging coronagraph. Additionally, it led the development of a global lithologic map of the moon with the highest resolution (at a 1:2.5 million scale) of any such map to date.