I was recently invited by Dr. Ding Gongtao, Associate Professor at Northwest Minzu University, China, to visit his lab and the Biomedical Research Center. Dr. Ding specializes in biomaterials research, and I was deeply impressed by both the quality of the facilities and the breadth of projects his team is pursuing.
During my visit, I had the chance to meet his research group, exchange ideas, and explore opportunities for collaboration. The discussions were engaging and highlighted exciting possibilities for joint work in the future.
One of the highlights of this trip was delivering my first ever research seminar in Mandarin. Preparing for it was quite a challenge, as I had to translate all scientific terminology from English into Chinese. With some help from Baidu Translate, I managed to put it together. The experience was both challenging and rewarding, and it’s something I would gladly do again.
Beyond the seminar, I learnt a great deal from Dr. Ding and his colleagues, not just about research, but also about perspectives shaped by different academic and cultural contexts. This exchange was truly enriching, and I am grateful for the warm hospitality I received throughout my stay.
I look forward to continuing this dialogue and building many fruitful collaborations with Dr. Ding and his team.
