On the morning of November 1, the second session of the "NHI Leading Lecture Series" was held at the Suzhou campus of Nanjing University . This session focused on the history of atmospheric science as a discipline and featured Professor Lyu Jianhua from Zhongshan University as the keynote speaker. The lecture was hosted by Assistant Professor Yang Bolei, with Vice Dean Xu Xin of Nanjing-Helsinki Institute, faculty members and students in attendance.

Professor Lyu began by explaining the purpose of the lecture: to help students understand the challenging nature of atmospheric science and to cultivate confidence in the discipline through its historical development. Reflecting on his motivation for studying abroad, he emphasized that it stemmed from a sense of mission—to take the international stage and amplify the voice of Chinese scholars in atmospheric science.

A Hundred Years of Atmospheric Science: The Global Perspective

Tracing the evolution of atmospheric science from ancient meteorology to its modern form, Professor Lyu outlined key milestones: from the philosophical inquiries of Plato to the Bergen and Chicago schools, marking three major transitions—from geography to mathematical sciences, and finally to modern Earth system science.

When discussing the Chicago School, Professor Lyu highlighted the foresight and academic influence of Rossby, sharing one of his famous quotes: "The dream of a visionary mind is closer to reality than the common sense judgment of realists."

A Hundred Years of Atmospheric Science: The Chinese Perspective

From pioneers like Zhu Kezhen, Tu Changwang, and Zhao Jiuzhang to breakthroughs in East Asian atmospheric circulation theory and numerical weather prediction, Professor Lyu reviewed the development of atmospheric science in China. He emphasized that Chinese meteorology has always integrated theory with practice, closely observing global trends while maintaining its independent path.

In closing, Professor Lyu expressed high hopes for students, encouraging them to aspire to become visionary and responsible leaders. He also looked forward to NHI contributing new chapters to the advancement of Earth system science.

Q&A Session

Professor Lyu warmly addressed questions on interdisciplinary approaches and modeling methods. He also engaged in discussions with attendees on the connections between humanities, philosophy, and atmospheric science, noting how literature can cultivate scientific thinking and broaden research perspectives.

Acknowledgments

At the end of the event, Vice Dean Xu Xin presented Professor Lyu with a certificate of appreciation on behalf of NJU Nanjing-Helsinki Institute and delivered a concluding summary of the insightful lecture.