Recently, Zhiyuan Innovation Research Center (ZIRC) has successfully held the 2026 Teacher-Student Exchange Conference of “Zhiyuan Future Scholars Program” in the lobby of Zhiyuan College. Since its launch in 2016, this annual event has consistently served as a high-level academic bridge, facilitating in-depth interactions between distinguished professors and outstanding undergraduates who are passionate about scientific exploration. It provides a crucial platform for young students to build academic connections and pursue their research aspirations.

The conference brought together over 80 professors and researchers from 27 schools and research institutes spanning science, engineering, life sciences, agriculture, and medicine, along with nearly 300 exceptional undergraduate students from across the university. Participants include Xu Xuemin, Dean of Zhiyuan College; Tong Yuerong, Deputy Director of the Academic Affairs Office; Zhou Shenshen, Secretary of the CPC ZY College Committee, Zhiyuan College; He Feng, Executive Deputy Dean; Wu Xiaoling, Deputy Secretary of the CPC ZY College Committee; Zhou Dongzhuo, Associate Dean, Zhiyuan Coleege; Shao Zhifeng, Executive Deputy Director of ZIRC; as well as staff representatives from the Academic Affairs Office of Zhiyuan College.

In her opening address, Xu reviewed the decade-long development of the Zhiyuan Future Scholars Program. She emphasized that the program has remained steadfast to its founding principle of "focusing on cutting-edge science and fostering interdisciplinary exploration," while continually expanding its scale and influence. The program has helped numerous students clarify their research direction and advance to the frontiers of their fields.

Xu highlighted that the program not only ignites undergraduates' research interest and innovative potential but also elevates the overall quality of top-tier talent cultivation across the university by extending its training model to the "Strong Foundation Program." Under the program's support and guidance, several undergraduates have begun to make their mark in pioneering scientific areas, demonstrating remarkable innovative vitality. Notably, over the past three years, 18 Zhiyuan undergraduates have been awarded the National Natural Science Foundation of China's Young Student Basic Research Project, with 4 of them selected for the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings to engage in dialogues with Nobel laureates alongside outstanding young scholars worldwide. Furthermore, 85 program alumni have embarked on academic careers.

"As we step into the program's second decade," Xu stated, "Zhiyuan College is committed to further developing the Zhiyuan Future Scholars Program into a vital channel connecting national strategic needs with future scientific frontiers. We aim to guide our students to approach problems with broader perspectives and engage in exploration with a stronger sense of mission."

The lobby of Zhiyuan College was transformed into a vibrant academic corridor for the event, featuring over eighty research posters. Students actively navigated the space, pausing at each poster to read and discuss insights with peers. Upon identifying research areas of interest, they proactively engaged in direct, in-depth conversations with the attending professors. The venue buzzed with dynamic intellectual exchange, fully igniting the participants' enthusiasm and motivation for scientific research.

Zhiyuan Future Scholars Program:
Established in 2016 at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the program is designed to identify and nurture outstanding undergraduates with strong research potential. It connects them with faculty mentors across disciplines, providing early exposure to frontier research and a foundation for future academic careers.