Xuxu Chen, a student from the programme of International Studies at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC), received an offer from the University of Cambridge (CAM) in April, becoming the first Chinese student of the Anthropocene Studies MPhil at CAM. Xuxu expressed that his rich interdisciplinary experience at UNNC opened the door to CAM for him.
During his time at UNNC, Xuxu has been exploring his own path. He joined the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) under the United Nations, conducting academic research with students from multiple countries. He participated in Social Responsibility Practitioners, engaging in public welfare projects such as grassroots environmental governance and climate change research.
In his junior year, leveraging UNNC's close partnerships with over 150 top overseas universities, he went to exchange at Aberystwyth University (Aber) in Wales, UK. UNNC helped him extend the exchange period and obtain a position as a research assistant at the David Davis Memorial Institute of International Studies, an integral part of the Department of International Politics at Aber.
In the institute, Xuxu began in-depth research on the Anthropocene and presented his understanding of this subject from an artistic perspective. Inspired by Professor Milja Kurki at Aber, Xuxu utilised his photographic expertise and held a photography exhibition at the National Library of Wales, which expanded his comprehensive abilities.
Encouraged by the successful exhibition in Wales, Xuxu formed a team of over 30 members after returning to China, including students from Architecture, Product Design and Manufacture, and International Communications Studies programmes at UNNC. With the support of the UNNC Library and the Environmental Sustainability Committee, they successfully held the Paths & Nature exhibition at UNNC and the Ningbo Library, presenting their creative ideas on environmental sustainability.
Paths & Nature shared Xuxu's thoughts on the Anthropocene with the public and served as a strong evidence of his potential, which impressed CAM, ultimately helping Xuxu obtain the admission to the Anthropocene Studies MPhil at CAM.
Xuxu often faces questions about the practical significance of the Anthropocene, a niche field. His team has responded with practical actions. More and more UNNC students are joining the team to turn their knowledge and ideas into applications.
Recently, the team held an exhibition on sponge cities and participated in the "Youth Climate Action and Disaster Reduction Hackathon" competition. Among multiple teams from top universities, such as Tsinghua University, Harvard University, and the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xuxu's team won the third prize.
Looking back on his four-year undergraduate studies, Xuxu is grateful to Dr Maria Julia Trombetta, Associate Professor in Politics and Environment at UNNC, Professor Milja Kurki at Aber, and all his team members for helping him progress his exploration of the Anthropocene. The rich resources and vast platforms of UNNC allow students to turn theory into practice, and its free, inclusive, and innovative environment continuously ignites students' flames of passion to pursue what they love.
Published on 19 June 2024