Our school's 2017 National Geological Science Base Class "Red and Specialized Geologists" team did a very meaningful thing in 2019.They interviewed some of the old teachers of the Department of Geology who retired from the Chinese University of Geology (Wuhan) and moved south from Beijing to Wuhan in 1975.These old teachers have witnessed the difficulties of moving south from Beijing to Wuhan. They are the creators of the Beijing Institute of Geology → Hubei Institute of Geology → Wuhan Institute of Geology → China University of Geology's long history and splendid culture.Seeing this interview article evokes my deep nostalgia for many senior teachers in the traditional geology discipline of the university.Although I belong to the faculty of geophysics, my teaching and scientific research for decades has always adhered to the cross-fusion of scientific research thinking and methods with geology.In addition, I also gave a lecture on "Introduction to Geophysics" course to students of National Geological Science Base, "The Story of Four Post-80s Students, Science Net, December 19, 2016".At the same time, I also emphasized the importance of the cross-fusion of geophysics and geology principles to students in the undergraduate and graduate teaching of geophysics.To this end, I have had close contacts with many senior, middle and young teachers in geochemistry, rock mineralogy, tectonics and stratigraphic paleontology in the Department of Geology.I also assisted Professor Lu Fengxiang (Mainland Magnetic Field) and Professor Yin Hongfu (Environmental Magnetics) in guiding doctoral students as associate mentors.I express my deep respect for many senior teachers on the road to gratitude, August 10, 2018 Science Network.From these teachers, I can feel the objective existence and authenticity of the "hard and simple, pragmatic" school style of China Geological University.For this reason, I communicated with a senior professor of the Department of Geology on WeChat about the teaching and scientific research inheritance of the school after moving south to Wuhan.The professor greatly appreciated my understanding of the present situation of the teachers of geology in the school.He told me that the current evaluation of teachers is too focused on scientific research, which weakens teachers' sense of responsibility for undergraduate teaching, especially in the field of geology teaching.I tease: This is the paper caused by the disaster, need school management decision-makers and all teachers to work together to correct it.
As we all know, the significance of undergraduate education lies in: on the one hand, directly for the national economic construction and social development of high-quality talents.On the other hand, we are delivering qualified candidates for higher-level talent development.Therefore, the importance of undergraduate education is self-evident.After completing his undergraduate and master's degree at the university, he completed his doctorate at a well-known university overseas, focusing on undergraduate teaching, especially field teaching.Therefore, in view of the weakening of field geological investigation ability in geological teaching, he suggested that I write an article calling on schools to pay attention to teachers' contribution to field geological teaching.
The senior professor's words remind us once again that universities must attach importance to undergraduate teaching, not put the cart before the horse.Moreover, scientific research of university teachers, especially professional teachers, aims to serve students and lay a good foundation for enhancing their independent thinking and innovation.I have always believed that a high level of undergraduate education is far more meaningful than scientific research results (academic papers) that have only a small amount of innovative knowledge.Why do university teachers do scientific research?On April 16, 2019, ScienceNet listed five reasons, four of which are related to undergraduate education. First, scientific research experience and achievements are the material foundation of a well-known university professor and the capital to serve students.Secondly, the "style" of university teachers engaged in scientific research can stimulate students' enthusiasm for learning.Third, the university teachers can improve the quality of curriculum teaching based on their own scientific research experience and achievements.Fourth, the scientific research process is conducive to teachers' improvement of curriculum teaching thinking methods, optimization of curriculum teaching content structure, improvement of teaching quality.Fifth, the university is the main position of producing great scientific and technological achievements, and the university teachers are the main force of national scientific and technological innovation.
According to the nature of natural science, earth science, life science and astronomy belong to open disciplines.For the subject of geoscience, it can be understood that there is no identical geological phenomenon on Earth, only similar geological phenomena exist.The results of these disciplines strongly depend on actual observation, field investigation and laboratory analysis experiments.The internal relationship and regularity of geological phenomena are based on the statistical data of large samples, not mathematical analytical relationships.Taking geology as an example, field geology practice is the basic skill of students' undergraduate studies. Obviously, our teachers need to have a solid field geology observation ability and level first.Based on the observation and analysis of geological phenomena, including strata, rock minerals and tectonics, the evolution of the earth's material composition and its formation and evolution process are discussed.I still remember the many scenes of the field geology survey in Qinba, Henan Province, during the summer of 1986 when I followed the professor of tectonic geology and vice-principal Yang Weiran.When we went along a ravine, he introduced me to the recipe for field observation of geological phenomena: look far and near, look left and right, knock.This formula explains the basic process of geological field observation in a popular way."Far view" is to observe large-scale macro-geological structure, specifically or "close view", to carefully examine the material composition of macro-structure."Looking left and right" refers to the analysis of the upper and lower plate relationship of some fault structures through the comparative analysis of strata space structure on both sides of the fault."Knock Knock Knock Knock Knock Knock Knock Knock" is to use geological hammer to carefully observe rocks and collect corresponding rock samples.Therefore, it can be seen that a solid field geological investigation capability is not only a skill, but also an important part of geological science knowledge.
In early 2002, at the invitation of Professor Chan Lung-sheng of the Department of Earth Sciences of the University of Hong Kong, I visited Dongpingzhou across the sea from Shenzhen for a month.As far as I know, the geological field practice sites of the Department of Geoscience at the University of Hong Kong are mainly from representative geological phenomenon areas in the Mainland.Our school's three major geological practice bases: Beijing Zhoukoudian, Hubei Yichang Zigui, Hebei Qinhuangdao Beidaihe, of which Beijing Zhoukoudian geological practice base has been built for more than 60 years.Zigui and Beidaihe bases belong to the new practice bases established after moving south to Wuhan.Each of the three geological practice bases has its own characteristics. They contribute to the acquisition of "basic, professional and profound" geological science knowledge by students of geological disciplines in schools and domestic universities.