Latest news with #WuhanUniversity
Borneo Post
18-05-2025
- Borneo Post
Guatemalan expat bridges cultures between China, Latin America through social media
Celia Esquivel Salguero hosts a livestreaming for overseas netizens on Wudang Mountain in Shiyan City, central China's Hubei Province, April 27, 2025. (Xinhua) WUHAN (May 19): Celia Esquivel Salguero, from Guatemala, first arrived in China in 2014 as a foreign student of Chinese Language and Literature, and began sharing wide-eyed snippets of her life on Facebook as a simple act of curiosity. Back then, as a student at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in central Hubei Province, her posts mostly attracted friends curious about Chinese cuisine, tourist attractions, and the art of writing complex Chinese characters. What started as an online diary for a small circle of friends has, over the past decade, blossomed into a vibrant platform that connects two cultures. Today, at 36, Celia is a Spanish teacher at Wuhan University, where she teaches courses like 'Latin American History and Ideas.' Her Facebook page, Chapina en China, which translates to 'The Guatemalan Girl in China,' has amassed over 300,000 followers. Her livestreams draw audiences of more than 3 million, a testament to how her voice has become a trusted bridge between Latin America and China. These days, her Latin American followers are particularly interested in topics like studying in China, new energy vehicles, and humanoid robots. 'Over the past decade, cultural exchanges between China and Latin America have been like a high-speed train. As a Latin American influencer, I have been fortunate to witness and participate in this journey, recording and witnessing the emotional exchange and cultural collision with my camera and words,' she said. Nearly 15 years in China have left their mark on Celia, so much so that her fluent Mandarin now carries a hint of the Wuhan dialect, thanks in part to her local husband. Looking back on her years in China, Celia feels increasingly at home, not only because she has developed a taste for local Wuhan delicacies, but also because Latin American influences have become increasingly visible in the city. 'When I first arrived in China, avocados, which are common in my hometown, were rarely seen here, and they cost over 20 yuan (about 2.78 U.S. dollars) each. But now, avocados are available in many supermarkets and fruit stores in Wuhan, and many milk tea shops along the streets use avocados as an ingredient for their drinks. The taste of home is now within reach,' Celia said. Celia's role as a cultural ambassador took on new weight during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan in 2020, waves of misinformation swept across international social media. While many foreigners chose to leave, Celia stayed and decided to show the world the Wuhan she knew. Celia Esquivel Salguero and her son pose for photos when enjoying cherry blossoms at Wuhan University in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, March 24, 2025. (Xinhua) Through her live-streams, she showcased daily life amid lockdowns, from grocery shopping to vaccination drives. 'I saw so many rumors about Wuhan on social media. I had to do something,' she said. Her authentic, on-the-ground storytelling helped counter the noise, earning the trust of her followers back home. 'Even now, many Latin American followers still send me Chinese news and ask me to verify it,' Celia said. 'I'm happy to have their trust, and even more pleased that what I do allows people to understand the real China.' Celia believes that China's understanding of Latin America has also deepened over the years. 'Now, Wuhan University and Central China Normal University have many Spanish-language learning students, and Hubei University has even established a Latin American research institute. More and more Chinese people are eager to learn Spanish. With the language as a key, they have opened the door to the Latin American world and enhanced the cultural exchange between China and Latin America,' she added. In January 2023, thanks to Celia's efforts, her alma mater, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, signed a cooperation agreement with Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala — Guatemala's only public university — to launch a student exchange program, paving the way for more frequent academic and cultural exchanges between the two sides. Last summer, Celia visited Guatemala after a gap of five years and was surprised by what she found. Chinese restaurants, milk tea shops, and even supermarkets stocked with Chinese vinegar and dumpling wrappers were now part of the local landscape. She finally fulfilled a long-held wish of making dumplings for her family. Looking to the future, Celia hopes to see more breakthroughs in educational exchanges between China and Latin America. 'I hope more Latin American students will come to China to see and experience the real and lovely China. I also hope more Chinese people and Chinese businesses will enter Latin America and benefit the region through cultural and technological exchanges,' she said. Through the lens of 'Chapina en China,' Celia has not only chronicled her own journey but has helped thousands of others embark on theirs. – Xinhua China expatriates foreigners tourism
South China Morning Post
16-05-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
China-US ties: lawmakers call on American college to end role in Duke Kunshan University
Two Republican lawmakers in the US House of Representatives are asking Duke University to terminate its joint campus with Wuhan University in China over concerns about technology transfers and student 'manipulation'. In a letter to Duke's president Vincent Price, which was made public on Thursday, Michigan congressmen John Moolenaar and Tim Walberg said the partnership created a 'direct pipeline between US innovation and China's military-industrial complex' and facilitated the use of Americans as 'pawns' for Chinese propaganda. Duke Kunshan University (DKU) was founded in 2013 as a liberal arts-focused joint venture between Duke and Wuhan, both frequently ranked among the top 10 universities in their respective countries. 00:45 Trump says he can see himself dealing directly with Xi on US-China trade deal details Trump says he can see himself dealing directly with Xi on US-China trade deal details In a statement in 2012, then-Duke president Richard Brodhead framed the project as a way to introduce China to 'Duke's signature strengths of liberal arts education' and to help American students become more 'aware of a world of which China is a part'. The campus in Kunshan, in Jiangsu province, is home to about 2,000 students. In the spring semester of this year, it played host to some 1,635 undergraduates and 270 graduate students, according to DKU's website. The school does not confer doctoral degrees. Students receive a full degree from Duke University, in addition to one from DKU, which is certified by China's Ministry of Education, and are often offered the opportunity to spend time at Duke's campus in Durham, North Carolina. Moolenaar, who chairs the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, and Walberg, who chairs the House Education and Workforce Committee, said DKU specialised in 'high-technology fields with direct military applications' and, due to exchange opportunities, many of its students gained access to federally funded US research. That, they argued, was a problem because of the Chinese Communist Party's 'well-documented efforts to exploit academic openness'.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
House GOP China hawks urge Duke to end its relationship with Chinese university
Two Republican critics of China are urging Duke University to end its partnership with a Chinese institution with close ties to the country's government. Rep. John Moolenaar and Rep. Tim Walberg said in a letter Wednesday to Duke that the partnership with Wuhan University helps facilitate the transfer of technology and skills to China. 'Wuhan University is not an ordinary academic institution,' they wrote in the letter to Duke President Vincent Price. 'It is a direct extension of the Chinese military and intelligence apparatus.' The letter from Moolenaar, who is chair of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, and Walberg echoes familiar government concerns about China's efforts to develop its economy with knowledge and technology from the U.S., often in the forms of research partnership with American institutions and companies. Duke confirmed in a statement that it had received the letter, and said the university would work 'to further educate Congress about Duke's global education mission.' Duke Kunshan University, near Shanghai, enrolls about 3,000 students, many of whom spend time and do research at the U.S. school's main campus in Durham, North Carolina. That's what Walberg and Moolenaar find troubling. They pointed to a 2024 joint report from the Select Committee on China and the House Education and Workforce Committee that found American research funding had contributed to technological and military advancements in Beijing. 'Given the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) well-documented efforts to exploit U.S. academic openness, this partnership creates a direct pipeline between U.S. innovation and China's military-industrial complex,' the pair wrote. Duke is one of many elite institutions caught in President Donald Trump's ongoing assault on higher education. Layoffs as a result of cuts to grants and contracts are likely, the university hinted in April. And Duke is already rolling out a voluntary buyout program as it readies for lower federal funding levels. Also this week, Moolenaar and Walberg joined Texas Republicans Roger Williams and Brian Babin in pushing university systems in California and New York to monitor small business grant programs for Chinese influence. 'American universities must be vigilant against foreign influence and infiltration — especially when partnered with small businesses developing cutting-edge technology,' Moolenaar said in a statement. 'This investigation is about safeguarding national security and making sure U.S. innovation benefits America, not the CCP.'
Politico
15-05-2025
- Business
- Politico
House GOP China hawks urge Duke to end its relationship with Chinese university
Two Republican critics of China are urging Duke University to end its partnership with a Chinese institution with close ties to the country's government. Rep. John Moolenaar and Rep. Tim Walberg said in a letter Wednesday to Duke that the partnership with Wuhan University helps facilitate the transfer of technology and skills to China. 'Wuhan University is not an ordinary academic institution,' they wrote in the letter to Duke President Vincent Price. 'It is a direct extension of the Chinese military and intelligence apparatus.' The letter from Moolenaar, who is chair of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, and Walberg echoes familiar government concerns about China's efforts to develop its economy with knowledge and technology from the U.S., often in the forms of research partnership with American institutions and companies. Duke confirmed in a statement that it had received the letter, and said the university would work 'to further educate Congress about Duke's global education mission.' Duke Kunshan University, near Shanghai, enrolls about 3,000 students, many of whom spend time and do research at the U.S. school's main campus in Durham, North Carolina. That's what Walberg and Moolenaar find troubling. They pointed to a 2024 joint report from the Select Committee on China and the House Education and Workforce Committee that found American research funding had contributed to technological and military advancements in Beijing. 'Given the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) well-documented efforts to exploit U.S. academic openness, this partnership creates a direct pipeline between U.S. innovation and China's military-industrial complex,' the pair wrote. Duke is one of many elite institutions caught in President Donald Trump's ongoing assault on higher education. Layoffs as a result of cuts to grants and contracts are likely, the university hinted in April. And Duke is already rolling out a voluntary buyout program as it readies for lower federal funding levels. Also this week, Moolenaar and Walberg joined Texas Republicans Roger Williams and Brian Babin in pushing university systems in California and New York to monitor small business grant programs for Chinese influence. 'American universities must be vigilant against foreign influence and infiltration — especially when partnered with small businesses developing cutting-edge technology,' Moolenaar said in a statement. 'This investigation is about safeguarding national security and making sure U.S. innovation benefits America, not the CCP.'
Associated Press
24-03-2025
- Science
- Associated Press
Global PM2.5 inequality: a new framework for air pollution and ecology
/ -- A pioneering study has introduced an innovative framework to evaluate global inequalities in Particulate Matte ( PM2.5) exposure and ecological possession, shedding light on the growing environmental disparities across nations. By integrating cutting-edge remote sensing data, the research reveals a troubling rise in PM2.5 levels in certain least developed countries and developing countries, while developed nations are seeing a decline. This highlights the urgent need for global collaboration to combat air pollution and ecological inequalities, with the goal of achieving sustainable development. Air pollution, particularly Particulate Matte (PM2.5), is a leading cause of premature deaths worldwide, contributing to millions of fatalities every year. Ecological degradation compounds this crisis, with significant disparities in resource distribution across nations. As developing countries experience rapid urbanization and industrialization, they are increasingly exposed to the harmful effects of air pollution. Against this backdrop, there is an urgent need for comprehensive research on global PM2.5 exposure and ecological inequalities to inform policies that can effectively address these environmental challenges. On January 23, 2025, researchers from Wuhan University and Emory University published a transformative study (DOI: 10.34133/remotesensing.0446) in Journal of Remote Sensing, offering an in-depth analysis of global PM2.5 exposure and ecological possession. By leveraging advanced remote sensing technology, the study provides real-time, continuous data to examine the interconnection between air pollution and ecological quality. This groundbreaking approach introduces a unified framework to assess the impact of air pollution on ecological health, with the aim of mitigating environmental risks and advancing sustainable development goals. The study reveals that countries such as India, Saudi Arabia, and Russia are experiencing rising PM2.5 concentrations, while nations like China, the United States, and most European countries are seeing reductions. In southeastern China, a notable decrease in PM2.5 exposure risk is attributed to stringent air quality management measures. A new metric, the Ecological Quality Possession Index (EQPI), was also introduced, which highlights regions with intense competition for ecological resources. The study's findings offer a comprehensive view of global air pollution and ecological inequality, presenting a powerful tool for policymakers to guide interventions. 'Our study provides a critical lens through which to view global air pollution and ecological inequality,' said Dr. Zhenfeng Shao, the lead researcher of the study. 'By integrating remote sensing data, we offer a comprehensive framework that can guide global efforts toward sustainable development and environmental protection.' The study utilizes a sophisticated coupling framework that integrates PM2.5 pollution data, population density metrics, and ecological indices. Datasets include LandScan population data, satellite-derived PM2.5 concentrations, and solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) data, with slope analysis and the Mann-Kendall test used to assess trends from 2001 to 2020. These findings highlight a 22.54% global increase in PM2.5 concentrations, with significant reductions in East Asia and Europe. The EQPI revealed regions like South Asia and East Africa as having lower ecological possession, signifying heightened competition for resources. This framework has immense potential to inform global environmental monitoring and policy-making. By pinpointing regions with high PM2.5 exposure and ecological stress, it offers a roadmap for targeted interventions that can reduce air pollution and foster more sustainable resource management. The study emphasizes the need for international cooperation in addressing environmental challenges, paving the way for a healthier and more equitable global future. DOI 10.34133/remotesensing.0446 Original Source URL Funding information This research is supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2023YFB3906102), key R&D projects in Yunnan Province (202403ZC380001), and the Fundamental Research Fund Program of LIESMARS (4201-420100071). Lucy Wang BioDesign Research Legal Disclaimer:
