April 15, 2026

On April 11, 2026, the School of the Gifted Young (SGY) successfully held its sixth Youth Meets Mentor Undergraduate Research Exchange Conference at the West Campus Student Activity Center. This event is designed to build a bridge between SGY students and various research teams across the University. Its goal is to provide students with a comprehensive, one-stop overview of cutting-edge developments in multiple disciplines, helping them identify future research directions.

The conference received an enthusiastic response from across the University. Nearly 200 research groups participated, representing a wide spectrum of departments and institutions. To give students a direct feel for the excitement of research, the participating groups prepared well-designed, informative posters, and some even brought portable experimental setups and interactive demonstrations to showcase their unique research features and academic style.

On the day of the conference, the multi-function hall on the third floor was bustling with activity and vibrant energy. SGY students, driven by curiosity and a passion for research, moved between the booths—pausing to read posters, engaging in discussions with faculty mentors, or sharing ideas with peers. Faculty mentors warmly received the students, patiently answering their questions, breaking down complex scientific problems into clear and understandable concepts, meticulously explaining the latest research frontiers, and actively encouraging students to ask bold questions and explore. The atmosphere was filled with easy laughter and lively discussion, creating an academic ambiance that was both rigorous and invigorating.

Over 450 students from the School participated in the conference. To ensure follow-up and facilitate students in connecting with mentors to begin hands-on research in their laboratories, the School will continue its tradition of compiling and distributing the Research Mentor Handbook, which systematically organizes the basic information and contact details of all participating research groups.

The Youth Meets Mentor Research Exchange Conference is a signature program of the School of the Gifted Young. In the future, the School will continue to strengthen this platform, creating more opportunities for students to engage directly with the research frontline. The School aims to empower more aspiring thousand-li horses (promising students) to gallop forward and realize their research dreams under the guidance of their Bole (wise mentors).