Prof. Dr. Bernd Wuennemann, who received the Chinese Government Friendship Award and was pointed as a state specially recruited foreign expert in ‘1000 Talents’ Plan’, is invited as a full distinguished professor at FGEE from end of December 2020 on. Since then, Prof. Dr. Wuennemann highly engaged to establish a multi-disciplinary research and education group together with Prof. Dr. Zhao Xiaoyan, Dr. Liao Xin, Dr. Liu Yuanyuan and Dr. Yan Dada. On 8^thJanuary 2021, they guided a joint field excursion on a landslide in phyllite formation in Huangyan Village at Wenchuan County with two PhD candidates and another two master students.

Fig. 1Group photo of FGEE members in the field with the landslide in background.

In the field, Prof. Dr. Wuemmann explained the formation and potential development of the landslide in view of sedimentology and shared his opinion on possible study related to some open questions with other members, that is helpful for all to have a new insight into cross-boundaries study on various landslide aspects. The way of free scientific thinking, solid field skills and internationally broad view of joint research of Prof. Dr. Wuennemann were rather impressed, especially by the students. Such open discussion also inspired the young master student who will be joint supervised to figure out his scientific question of his research work in the coming years.

Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. Wuennemann also had in-depth discussions on the way with all members on how to enhance the international competition of education and lab arrangement based on his experience and some case studies. Prof. Dr. Zhao fully agreed with the suggestions from Prof. Dr. Wuennemann, that makes him confident in the intensive and creative contribution to the development of the Geology branch with respect to education on graduate students and close cooperation in joint research.

Fig. 2Photos of open discussion among members (Left) and sampling (Right)in the field