On Sept. 9, 2026, IHB held its 2026 graduate opening ceremony and orientation for new students. (Credit: IHB)

On Sept. 9, 2026, the Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences held its 2026 graduate opening ceremony and orientation for new students. More than 140 students, including 2026 doctoral students and 2025 jointly trained master's students, participated in the activity.

At the opening ceremony, IHB director MIAO Wei extended a warm welcome to the new students on behalf of all faculty, staff and students of the institute. He introduced IHB's important progress in fields such as aquatic biodiversity, ecological conservation and aquaculture seed industry innovation.

Speaking to the students as they begin a new stage of research and study, Miao encouraged them to be "top-level" explorers, integrating personal research interests into national strategic needs and boldly exploring frontier directions such as artificial intelligence-empowered biology and biological intelligent manufacturing. He also urged them to be "grounded" doers, seeking true knowledge through solid scientific practice, and to be "pioneering" dream chasers, carrying forward the spirit of scientists and daring to make innovations and breakthroughs, so as to realize personal value in the process of serving national scientific and technological development.

IHB deputy director XU Jun delivered a report on the institute's history and current situation, leading the new students through IHB's nearly century-long development. He introduced the institute's research layout and disciplinary characteristics. Through the moving stories of generations of IHB researchers who have taken root in rivers, lakes and seas and served the country, the report helped the new students gain a deeper understanding of the institute's cultural heritage, enhanced their awareness of IHB's mission and responsibility, and inspired young researchers to continue striving and scale new heights.

In the afternoon, relevant heads of the Office of Personnel and Talent Management gave a comprehensive introduction covering research integrity, graduate training, student status management, award and financial aid policies, and student development.

On Sept. 10, 2026, the new students visited an education base themed "Clear Waters, Loyal Hearts, Serving the Country and the People." They studied the spirit of IHB scientists and reflected on the mission and responsibility of older generations of researchers in serving the country through science and technology.

The opening ceremony and orientation helped the new students gain a comprehensive understanding of IHB's development history, research culture and training requirements, laying a solid foundation for the 2026 graduate students as they begin their path of scientific exploration. The new students will devote their youthful aspirations to scientific exploration and write a new chapter of struggle for aquatic researchers of the new era on the shores of East Lake.