Although the London Olympic Games were very lively, my enthusiasm for watching the Olympic Games was not high. Because I am not very familiar with the rules of most sports competitions, I mainly look at the results of the competition and a few highlights of the competition in the afternoon news and news broadcast every day. However, the London interview hosted by Chai Jing is broadcast on the today's statement column at noon. I must watch every issue. Yesterday's interview with the president of Cambridge University has a deep memory and has been downloaded and read many times. In addition to appreciating Chai Jing's wisdom and cheerful hosting style, the president Sir Lester borisevich's interpretation of the true meaning of the University opened my eyes. He deepened my understanding of the spirit of modern universities. This is a high-grade spiritual fast food brought to us by CCTV during the London Olympic Games.

The information about the academic philosophy of university presidents in China mainly comes from several ways: 1. The weekly University column of China Science Daily occasionally publishes interviews with some university presidents in China to explain their university philosophy and some ideas and practices of the management of the University; 2. At the beginning and graduation of each year, University Presidents Make impassioned speeches, most of which will be published in newspapers and networks; 3. TV media and other paper or online media occasionally report various "performances" of principals. In addition to official publicity, these messages convey the school running ideas and thoughts of university presidents in China. I have also written two humble (blog) articles: university presidents need more rationality (March 8), I give advice for the president (April 22), and the two blog articles have been reprinted in China Science Daily. However, after watching Chai Jing's video interview with the president of Cambridge University, I was shocked by the president Sir Lester borisevich's interpretation of the university spirit. Although the main content of his interpretation is mostly in my imagination and control, his interpretation of the university spirit is more comprehensive, incisive and profound. I excerpt some wonderful statements: universities should provide enough time and space for professors to let scholars choose calmly; Let them contribute to the knowledge system of the school; A university is not composed of administrators, but teaching staff. The independence of management is the core of Cambridge's academic prosperity; One to one supervision of undergraduates is very important for students' personal development and is fully responsible for students' all-round development, although the cost is expensive. His description of an ideal college student is: high academic talent, the potential to study hard, must have an independent personality, have the ability to think freely academically, have ambition, constantly spur themselves and have the ambition to change the world.

In Chai Jing's exclusive interview, she wisely selected several "ones" to clearly outline the academic thought of Cambridge University's long history, splendid culture and brilliant achievements. I try to make my own understanding of these "ones":

A tree - this is the apple tree where Newton, the greatest student at Cambridge University, discovered the law of gravitation. This is a familiar story. The school transplanted the apple tree from the garden of Newton's hometown 60 years ago. He told us that anything that happens in nature is worth pondering and thinking. We are used to "sticking to the old rules". Most of the natural phenomena around us turn a blind eye, which is very different from the concept of "one tree". This reminds me of the slogan of "doubt everything" put forward in the cultural revolution more than 30 years ago. That is "doubt everything" in politics. The purpose is to "overthrow everything" and rebuild the so-called "new order", resulting in a great setback in China's economy. However, we should advocate rational "doubt everything" in the field of science, which is the source of major scientific and technological innovation achievements.

A pamphlet called "night climber" is familiar to many Cambridge students. The book records that the older students seek stimulation and show their personality by climbing school buildings at night. However, the school authorities tolerate such extreme behavior of students. The starting point of the university is that too much regulation will restrict students' freedom. Students should be allowed to have a colorful life and different views in different shapes during college. This is quite different from some of our schools that stipulate that freshmen can't bring computers, and many "can't and can't" in school rules and disciplines. Of course, sir Lester borisevich does not approve of "night climbing", so he is unwilling to sign this little book.

A man - known as Hawking, the great physicist after Einstein in the 20th century. In addition to his scientific and intelligent brain and his great achievements in physics, I fear his tenacity of vitality and his pursuit of science. In a fashionable Chinese saying, he should be a world-class model of "disabled and determined". This also reminds me of Mr. Chen Jingrun. I was honest. In my heart, Mr. Chen Jingrun's obsession with science has a greater impact on me than his "Goldbach conjecture". If we can have more people with the scientific spirit of Hawking and Chen Jingrun, "any miracle in the world can be created", I firmly believe that.

A dinner (Jesus College dinner) - the professor's table is located on the high platform. When the professor is seated, all students must stand up. At the end of the banquet, students must wait for the professor to leave before leaving. Many students with personality are also respectful to professors here and now. It shows the supreme concept of university professors and the noble dignity enjoyed by professors. Such a gentleman of professors and students promotes the long-lasting and healthy development of the University. Just imagine that in our society, some people compare professors to "beasts". Even some professors' own actions deviate from the excellent quality of a respected professor, which is the root of our university's difficulty in answering the "Qian Xuesen's question". I explained in my blog post on May 1: "professor's sorrow".

Once closed door - it refers to Trinity College (Note: Trinity College of Cambridge University, Trinity College of Oxford University and Trinity College of Dublin, Ireland are successively founded by many British queens). The reporter refused to interview and let the reporter eat a closed door. It doesn't work here if the headmaster allows an interview. Colleges and universities has the final say in such important matters as teaching, finance and even enrollment. Therefore, the president said that Cambridge University is actually an academic alliance composed of 31 colleges. Therefore, the college has great independence, which is in sharp contrast to the power of school leaders in many of our universities.

An examination - refers to the final examination of each academic year. Its feature is that the examination mainly belongs to the open question type, that is, there are no multiple-choice questions. The purpose is to investigate the students' ability and level of building their own ideas, and evaluate the students according to their relative grades, of which the top 25% are the first grade. I have a deep understanding of this kind of examination. Before my retirement, I had long been responsible for the teaching of two professional geophysics courses, the national "geology science base class" and the "geological geophysics experiment class" (run by the school), and I have always implemented this kind of examination concept. I remember the final open book examination of "geology science base class" one year. I was very pleased to see the students enter the examination room with a variety of geophysical reference books in hand. I felt very good. Of course, this kind of examination must be controversial in our universities where the idea of taking the examination occupies a dominant position.

A garden - introduces Darwin's way to success and the birth process of "origin of species" and the key role played by his teacher botanist Hans. This case shows that the care given by a professor to students with infinite potential may change the world.

I applaud Chai Jing's interview with the "President of Cambridge University" in London, and recommend more university teachers, managers and students to watch this interview. Of course, we hope that the leaders of our competent departments and university presidents will pay attention to this interview. Draw on the philosophy of the president of Cambridge University, which has universal value, and provide reference for the modernization of universities in China.