The Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (the School of Materials Science and Engineering of the University of Science and Technology of China) held the 2025 Graduation Ceremony on June 6, 2025.

Attended by IMR Director Prof. LIU Gang, Party Secretary and Deputy Director Prof. CHEN Xingqiu, Deputy Party Secretary and Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary ZHUO Junchen, Deputy Directors Prof. WU Xinqiang and Prof. HUANG Liang, Academicians LI Yiyi and YE Hengqiang, members of the IMR Academic Degree Committee, and alumni representatives from the classes of 1985, 1995, and 2005, the ceremony honored the achievements of this year’s graduates.

The event commenced with the national anthem. Prof. WU Xinqiang announced the degree conferral decisions and the Shi Changxu Scholarship recipients. Prof. LIU Gang, Prof. CHEN Xingqiu and Academicians LI Yiyi and YE Hengqiang presented degree certificates, graduation diplomas, and scholarship awards.

In his address, Prof. LIU Gang reviewed IMR’s over seven-decade commitment to serving the nation through materials science. He noted that 2025 marks the 10th anniversary of the USTC School of Materials Science and Engineering, emphasizing the success of the university-institute integration model in nurturing over a thousand talents in the past decade. Prof. LIU Gang encouraged graduates with three metaphorical “golden keys” to research: deep rooting in fundamental studies, breakthroughs in key technological fields, and interdisciplinary collaboration to forge “super-material” life paths.

Representative of supervisors, Prof. LI Jinguo drew parallels between materials processing and the research journey, likening paper rejections to cold rolling and experimental failures to quenching cracks. He put forward three expectations: always maintain enthusiasm for knowledge, bravely shoulder the mission of the times, and pursue all-round development.

Graduate representative XUE Baoquan expressed gratitude to mentors, alumni, peers, and family, and called on fellow graduates to integrate personal aspirations into national development and contribute to China’s sci-tech advancement.

A special tribute was paid to retiring faculty members, with Prof. LIU Gang presenting an honorary plaque to Prof. SUN Xiaofeng.

The ceremony concluded with group photos of graduates with institute leaders, academicians, and committee representatives, marking a memorable close to their academic journey at IMR.