On the afternoon of November 28, 2020, XJTU launched iHarbour Lectures -- Human Settlements and Environment Series. Ten experts from China, Italy, Canada, the United States, and Japan have been invited to lecture at XJTU and discuss and exchange views on human settlement frontier issues.

Yang Peng, Chair, School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering Branch, CPC XJTU Committee; Deputy Chair, Wang Xinke; Executive Vice Dean, Gu Zhaolin; Vice Deans, Xu Ling and Zhang Shuoying; and others attended the launch ceremony. Wang Yupeng, Assistant to the Dean of the School, presided over the event.

Yang Peng warmly welcomed participants and introduced the history and educational policies of the School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering. He stressed that iHarbour Lectures are the first English language lectures series organized by XJTU, with experts lecturing from universities and institutions at home and abroad. This is of great significance in introducing advanced knowledge, promoting academic research, and strengthening international cooperation.

Xu Ling summarized the lecture topics, stating that rapid urbanization has brought increasingly serious environmental issues. Dealing with air pollution and climate change, and developing new architecture according to current requests have become critical issues concerning human survival. He expressed the hope that young people should have an in-depth understanding of the relationship between life and the environment, respect the power of scientific knowledge, and use them to cope with environmental crises in the new era.

The first two lectures were given by Professors Gu Zhaolin and Cheng Yan from the School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering. Their lectures dealt with the urban atmospheric environment.

Professor Gu’s lecture, Wind and Air in Cities, analyzed the research value of the atmospheric environment based on the latest research results. China is still rapidly urbanizing, characterized by a rising urban population and ever-expanding urban areas. This fast development strains the urban environment and brings serious wind environmental issues. He discussed the impact of urban building density on the urban wind environment and the variation of atmospheric fine particulate matters in cities. He advanced basic methods for wind environment research. His study helps improve the comfort of the urban living environment and ensure city residents' physical and mental health.

Professor Chen Yan introduced air pollution in the Guanzhong Plain in recent years in her lecture, The Causes of Air Pollution in the Guanzhong Plain. The air in the Guanzhong Plain is characterized by high PM2.5 pollution in winter and high ozone pollution in summer, which is closely related to anthropogenic emissions, basin-like topography, and low wind speed in this area. Four factors affecting air pollution were summarized: pollution sources, dispersion conditions, complex reactions in the atmosphere, and propagation. She expressed the hope that this study can provide a practical basis for improving urban air conditions.

Inspired by the lectures, the audiences posed questions for discussion and exchanged views with the two professors. Professors Gu Zhaolin and Cheng Yan answered questions about the impact of Xi'an City Wall on the wind environment and how to quantify factors affecting air pollution.

iHarbour Lectures, designed for a general audience, were also attended by students of the High School Affiliated to XJTU, who were also invited. The students gave positive feedback, and some said they anticipated more opportunities to attend such activities.

The Human Settlements and Environment Series are from November 28, 2020, to December 26, 2020, with 10 lectures. The School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering will select representative subjects to introduce scientific concepts of human settlements and support interdisciplinary integration and innovation. Hopefully, the concepts of green development, human-environment harmony, and ecological priority originated from the development ideas of socialism with Chinese characteristics in this new era will be understood by more people.