It was an honour and a pleasure to return to China for collaborative research after more than four years. For five weeks in October and November of 2022, I had the opportunity to present seven seminars at five institutes, on subjects ranging from “The Fundamentals of Radio Astronomy” to an update on our RAGERS submm-wavelength survey of powerful radio galaxies using the East-Asian Observatory.

My trip began with a remote science seminar at Peking University. Following this, I was able to visit the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory (SHAO) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) to give another science seminar, along with a presentation and subsequent discussion on the science cases for the next generation of large radio interferometers. Returning to Nanjing, I had the pleasure of presenting an introductory lecture on Radio Astronomy to the staff and students at CAS’s Purple Mountain Observatory (PMO), followed by two science seminars at the Nanjing Institute of Astronomical Optics and Technology and PMO. My final presentation was given remotely to a warm welcome from the astronomy group of Guangzhou University.

The PIFI Visiting Scientist grant also gave me a great opportunity to have face-to-face collaborative meetings with staff and students across China. It was a pleasure to share discussions and delicious meals with the talented students and staff of CAS’s SHAO and PMO, from which new proposals and papers will emerge!

I want to thank the Purple Mountain Observatory, the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory and the Chinese Academy of Sciences for their generous support through the PIFI Visiting Scientist grant. My gratitude also goes to Peking University, Guangzhou University and the Nanjing Institute of Astronomical Optics and Technology for their warm reception. The journey would not have been possible without the guidance of friends like Wang Qiming, Guo Yan, Yang Ji, Chen Xuemei, Liu Yuanqi, An Tao, Lu Weijia, Wang Ran, Zhang Zhiyu, Wang Feng, and the talented cosmology group of the great Ma Yin-Zhe.

Moreover, I want to pay tribute to the late Professor Gao Yu, who was a wonderful advocate for the value of international collaboration. His kindness and humility will be missed.

Source: Jeffrey Wagg,

Purple Mountain Observatory,

Chinese Academy of Sciences