The "Exploring Great Learning" thematic lecture, hosted by the Aerospace Branch of Xi'an Jiaotong University Overseas Chinese Scholars Association, was recently held at the School of Aerospace Engineering. Invited by the branch, Professor Wang Quan, Executive President of Shantou University, delivered the lecture to teachers and students. Liu Yilun, Vice Dean of the School of Aerospace Engineering, delivered a welcome speech on behalf of the school and presided over the event. Nearly 40 participants attended, including young teachers such as Ding Yue, members of the Joint Party Branch of Teachers and Students from Wenzhi College of the School of Aerospace Engineering, and undergraduates from Class 2501 of the Aerospace National Excellence Program.

Centered on "Exploring Great Learning", Professor Wang Quan elaborated on philosophical thoughts of ancient Greece, the evolution of scientific history, modern scientific exploration, and the process of scientific cognition, while emphasizing the uncertainty of science. He pointed out that learning lies in pursuing truth and exploring the unknown, and that humanistic care and scientific spirit jointly promote social progress. Citing ideas from scholars such as Zhu Kezhen and Hu Shi, and taking Copernicus' heliocentric theory and Newton's natural philosophy as examples, he illustrated the importance of rigorous methods, bold imagination, questioning, and innovation in scientific progress, and raised profound questions about university learning and life orientation after graduation.

At the end of the lecture, Professor Wang interacted actively with students. When asked about cultivating innovative ideas, he encouraged students to recognize the infinity of knowledge and shape their character through lifelong learning. The lecture, rich in content and broad in vision, benefited teachers and students greatly, especially guiding freshmen in career planning. Looking forward, the School of Aerospace Engineering will take opportunities such as freshman orientation education and young teachers' growth to consolidate the foundation of students' development and continue to support the cultivation of "first-class talents".