Invited by the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Lanzhou University and Professors Xiaohua Gou and Xuejia Wang from the Key Laboratory of Western Environmental Education of the Ministry of Education, Professor Hans W. Linderholm from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, visited Lanzhou University and delivered a series of academic lectures over a week, offering an enriching academic experience to faculty and students.
On April 21, at the Qilian Hall on the Chengguan Campus, Professor Linderholm gave an academic report to researchers and graduate students, sharing the latest advancements in paleoclimate research from the Regional Climate Research Group at the University of Gothenburg. In his presentation, Professor Linderholm provided detailed insights into the construction of the PAGES2k paleoclimate database and the innovative applications of tree-ring reconstructions in studies of millennial temperature variations in Northern Europe, hydro-climate changes across the Eurasian continent, and the relationship between tree growth and climate change. These studies provide essential scientific support for understanding the dynamics of regional climate systems, developing and validating climate models, and formulating adaptive management strategies.
On April 23, at the Qilian Hall on the Chengguan Campus, Professor Linderholm delivered a lecture on writing SCI papers to graduate students. He likened an excellent paper to a detective novel—where the introduction poses a mystery, the methods provide clues, the results present evidence, and the discussion reveals the truth. He also shared common reasons for paper rejections from top-tier journals, helping researchers improve their academic writing skills.
On April 24, at the Qinling Hall on the Yuzhong Campus, Professor Linderholm gave a lecture on "Arctic Climate Change—Local and Remote Impacts" to over 50 undergraduate students. The lecture began with an overview of the current state of Arctic climate change and its widespread impacts on ecosystems, followed by an in-depth explanation of how these changes affect global climate and contribute to sea-level rise and other remote effects. Additionally, Professor Linderholm shared his experience aboard the "Arctic Sunrise" research vessel and introduced the research topics, objectives, and fieldwork process of Arctic scientific expeditions.
These three captivating academic reports attracted over a hundred faculty and students, sparking enthusiasm among young scholars for exploring paleoclimatology and polar science. After the lectures, faculty and students had ample opportunities to engage in discussions and exchanges with Professor Linderholm on their areas of interest. During his visit, Professor Linderholm also toured the experimental facilities at the Key Laboratory of Western Environmental Education and held discussions with the relevant faculty members and teams. They explored future opportunities for student exchanges, summer field internships, and collaborative research projects, laying a solid foundation for further advancing the internationalization of talent cultivation at the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences.
Reporter Profile:
Professor Hans W. Linderholm, from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, is the Chair of the Department of Earth Sciences, the Swedish Director of the Sino-Swedish Tree-ring Research Center (SISTRR), and the Deputy Director of the Regional Climate Research Group (RCG). He has long been engaged in research on tree-ring studies, global change, and paleoclimate and environmental changes. He has published over 180 academic papers in international journals, including top publications like Nature and Science, with more than 11,920 citations and an H-index of 56. He is currently the editor of Geografiska Annaler (Series A) and an editor for Climate of the Past. Professor Linderholm has led more than ten projects funded by the Swedish Research Council (VR) and Formas, and has participated in research projects in the EU, China, South Korea, and other regions. He has received several awards, including the 2009 U.S. Antarctic Service Medal and the 2024 International Cooperation Award from the Chinese Dendrochronological Society.
