Dr Yang Xuzhuang

Inner Mongolia University, Mainland China
Exchange to the Queensland University of Technology, Australia

I had been at the Queensland University of Technology for 6 months as a visiting Ph. D student in 2006. It was a nice and unforgettable episode in my life, not only because of the snow-like flowing clouds over the serene sky of the Brisbane City, the silent running water in the clement Brisbane River and the vernal sea breeze blowing through the Gold Coast sand beach, but also because of the unsophisticated Aussie way, the real peace in people’s hearts and the idyllic lifestyle. All of them drove me to return to Australia to experience the amazing life again.

I am a chemical engineering teacher from the Inner Mongolia University in China. Besides the routine teaching work, I also study catalysts for pollutant removal from air and water. Actually, the purpose of this visit was to develop a bi-functional catalyst which can work under light and/or at low temperature for decomposing pollutant molecules. The reason why I chose the Queensland University of Technology was because my host organization has the top researchers in my research field.

I love my hometown of Inner Mongolia, which is a vast pasture — now I will give you a close shot of my hometown. A herdsman on the back of a horse is singing an old song while the flock of sheep ramble on the grassland. The yurt not far away is his home where his wife is making yogurt and kumiss for breakfast. His kids are playing around near his yurt with the huntaway. The scattered cairns on the grassland are the totem of the whole Mongolian people, which are also his important spirit homestead. Mushroom and wild fruit growing in the grass are the food for the people in journey. This rurality is my hometown, Inner Mongolia.

I love Australia as I love my hometown. The beautiful scenery and unique environment are the most precious gifts of nature, while harmony is the motif of this continent. I don’t want to waste too many words just to describe the beauty of this land. I want to speak about the innermost touch when I step on the path along the Brisbane River side. I was often moved by the greetings from a passerby, and often felt warmth and gratitude when I obtained voluntary help from strangers and colleagues. People in different colours are so friendly and welcoming that they together create the harmony of this world.

I want to deeply thank the Australian Government and the Cheung Kong Group for granting me the Award, which has given me a good chance to experience multi-cultural Australia, to meet with top researchers and to undergo the mind ablution. I believe such an experience will deeply influence my future, which like seeds in the soil will grow into a tree reaching the sky someday.

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