Peking University, January 5, 2024: Recently, eight international scholars were awarded the 4th “PKU Yanyuan Friendship Award” for their outstanding contributions. The recipients who span various academic disciplines, include Hans van de Ven from the Department of History, Martin Joseph Powers from the School of Arts, Mi Jianchun from the College of Engineering, William Brent Haas from the Yenching Academy, Furuichi Masako from the School of Foreign Languages, Alexander Zheglov from the School of Mathematical Sciences, Ray Worthy Campbell from the School of Transnational Law, and Mikinori Kuwata from the School of Physics.

The awards were presented at the PKU’s New Year Party for International Students and Experts, attended by Gong Qihuang, President of Peking University, Shen Xin, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and Wu Demin, Deputy Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Department of Consular Affairs.

The recipients make great contributions to key academic fields at PKU, including history, art, engineering, education, foreign languages, mathematics, transnational law, and physics. Their dedication to research and education has led to groundbreaking achievements that have enhanced PKU’s academic reputation. Beyond their research contributions, they have also actively fostered collaborations between PKU and leading global institutions, playing an important role in advancing PKU’s internationalization and global academic influence.

Profiles of the Award Recipients


Hans van de Ven, Vice President of the University of Cambridge and a renowned historian, specializes in the history of the Chinese Communist Party and modern Chinese history. As a Fellow of the British Academy and the Royal Asiatic Society, he has authored influential works, including “From Friend to Comrade” and “War and Nationalism in China.” Since 2022, Hans van de Ven has been a Visiting Chair Professor at PKU’s Department of History. At PKU, he has taught courses on modern British and Chinese history, as well as World War II in Asia, mentoring PhD students and enhancing PKU’s academic exchange with the University of Cambridge. In 2024, he represented PKU as a keynote speaker during China’s 75th National Day celebrations and at the China-Europe Talent Forum. His work has strengthened cross-cultural understanding and elevated PKU’s international engagement.

(Centered)

Mi Jianchun, Professor of the College of Engineering, has dedicated 18 years to advancing education and research. As the Director of the Center of Efficient Energy & Power Engineering, he has made significant contributions to low-carbon combustion, pollution control, and energy systems & AI. Professor Mi has mentored nearly 20 talented students, many of whom have earned prestigious scholarships and accolades. His research achievements include nearly 300 publications, extensive citations, and recognition as Stanford/Elsevier’s Top 2% Scientist Rankings from 2020 to 2024. Beyond academia, Professor Mi actively promotes international collaboration, forging strong ties with global scholars and mentoring PhD students from countries like Pakistan. His efforts have promoted academic exchange and contributed to the Belt and Road Initiative’s mission of fostering global cooperation.


William Brent Haas, Associate Dean of Yenching Academy. With a strong background in history and cross-cultural studies, he has designed courses such as “Modern Chinese History” and “History of the Field: Sinology and China Studies from a Global Perspective.” His efforts have enriched students’ understanding of Chinese studies and global academia. As the head of admissions, Professor Haas has attracted outstanding talent worldwide. Post-pandemic, he expanded the Academy’s global reach by forming new collaborations with seven institutions and increasing applications from developing countries. In his leadership role, Professor Haas has fostered cross-cultural communication and mutual understanding between students and PKU. His work exemplifies his dedication to enhancing China’s role in international higher education.


Furuichi Masako, Associate Professor of the School of Foreign Languages. Since joining PKU in 2009, Professor Masako has made significant contributions to teaching, research, and cultural exchange between China and Japan. Her dynamic and engaging teaching style has earned her high praise from students, and she has played a key role in mentoring undergraduate and graduate students. Beyond teaching, she has published influential works such as “Manchurian Cinema Film Studies” and “Insights into Chinese Culture.” She has also led initiatives like the establishment of a manga library with Meiji University and the organization of Japanese anime culture events. She has been actively involved in international film premieres and high-level interpretation for diplomatic events, further cementing her impact on cultural and academic exchange.

(3rd from right)

Martin Joseph Powers, Visiting Chair Professor of the School of Arts, is a leading scholar in Chinese art and culture. Dedicated to advancing the global understanding of Chinese art, he has authored award-winning monographs, published extensively, and mentored numerous PhD students. Since joining PKU in 2022, Professor Powers has introduced innovative courses and lectures that bridge Eastern and Western perspectives on art and culture. His recent publications further enrich the study of Chinese art history, and his active participation in academic dialogues and international events has strengthened PKU’s global standing in the arts.

Alexander Zheglov, a professor at Moscow State University, is a leading mathematician known for his work in algebraic geometry, algebraic number theory, and integrable systems. Since joining PKU’s Sino-Russian Mathematics Center in 2021, he has played a pivotal role in fostering collaboration between China and Russia in mathematics and related fields. Professor Zheglov has been deeply involved in establishing the Sino-Russian Mathematics Center, organizing key initiatives such as the Beijing-Moscow Mathematics Colloquium, which has become a major platform for academic exchange. He has developed and taught joint lecture courses, contributed to summer schools, and authored textbooks that bridge mathematical methodologies between the two countries. In 2022, he spearheaded the first exchange program for graduate students from PKU to Moscow State University.


Ray Worthy Campbell, a core faculty member at the School of Transnational Law and the first to progress from assistant professor to tenured professor. He has played a vital role in bridging Chinese and global legal education. Professor Campbell has led initiatives such as the “Law Without Walls” program, fostering communications among students from top global universities. He introduced the “Law and Innovation” course to enhance students’ cross-border communication skills and continued to teach in person during the pandemic. He has provided students with valuable opportunities, including internships in U.S. federal courts and guidance for publishing papers. Many of his students have been recommended to prestigious graduate programs in the U.S. and Europe. Professor Campbell is also the author of a textbook on U.S. civil procedure tailored for Chinese students and a frequent speaker at international conferences, furthering the school’s global engagement and academic development.


Mikinori Kuwata, Assistant Professor in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences since 2019, is a highly promising young scholar dedicated to both teaching and research. In teaching, Professor Kuwata has taught five courses for graduate students, including “Environmental Challenges and Solutions,” which has been included in the PKU Global Open Courses Program. He currently supervises six PhD students, all of whom are making excellent progress in their studies and research. His research focuses on atmospheric aerosols. He has developed innovative methods for measuring aerosol pH, earning support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China. To date, he has published 17 SCI papers with PKU as his primary affiliation and led multiple research projects. Kuwata’s contributions have earned him recognition, including the Singapore NRF Fellowship in 2013 and the Japan Society of Atmospheric Chemistry Young Researcher Award in 2016. As a passionate advocate of cultural exchange, he has embraced life at PKU, actively participating in campus and international activities while strengthening PKU’s academic and research impact.

About PKU Yanyuan Friendship Award
Established in 2018, the PKU Yanyuan Friendship Award aims to recognize and reward the contributions of international scholars, aligning with national initiatives to attract and retain global talents. The award supports the PKU’s commitment to advancing its “Double First-Class” development goals. To date, 26 international scholars from 17 schools have received this award.

Written by: Jiaqi Xie
Edited by: Niki Qiu
Source: PKU News (Chinese)