5th LMU-ChAN Scientific Forum 2021

9:30/16:30
Welcome speech

• Prof. Francesca Biagini
  Vice President for International Affairs and Diversity, LMU Munich
• Prof. Hans van Ess
  Vice President for Research, LMU Munich
• TONG Defa
  Consul General, Chinese Consulate General in Munich

9:45/16:45
15 years LMU-China Scholarship Council program

• TIAN Lulu
  Deputy Secretary-General
  China Scholarship Council (CSC)
• Anniversary video

9:55/16:55
Greetings to the 3rd LMU-CSC alumni forum
Presentation of the LMU-CSC alumni survey 2021

• Dr. Stefan Lauterbach
  International Office at LMU Munich
• Dr. FENG Hao
  LMU-CSC Alumni Association

10:05/17:05
Dialogue between a CSC alumni & his former LMU supervisor and on their current ChAN collaboration

• Prof. Karsten Fischer
  Institute of Political Science, LMU Munich
• Dr. CAI Tingjian
  LMU liaison officer in Beijing

10:15/17:15
Dialogue between two longstanding ChAN partners on their research collaboration

• Prof. HU Wei
  German Philology, Peking University
• Prof. Friedrich Vollhardt
  German Philology, LMU Munich

10:25/17:25
Keynote on artificial intelligence in medicine

• Prof. Michael Ingrisch
  Head of Clinical Data Science, LMU Munich

10:40/17:40
Introducing LMU-ChAN partner universities, research focus and joint projects

11:05/18:05
Funding opportunities for Chinese-German research projects

• Dr. Lisanne Sauerwald
  Unit for research funding at LMU Munich
• LI Mei
  Officer of Division of European, Asian & African Affairs
  China Scholarship Council

11:50/18:50 Virtual group photo

11:55/18:55 Program Outlook on the LMU-ChAN Scientific Forum

26 November - 8:30/15:30 (3h)

Chair:

• Dr. Emlyn Yang
  Department of Geography, LMU Munich
• Prof. Matthias Garschagen
  Department of Geography, LMU Munich
• Prof. HE Canfei
  College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University
• Prof. PENG Jian
  College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University

Further Speakers:

• Prof. DENG Xiangzheng
  Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing
• Prof. QIN Huapeng
  School of Environment and Energy, Peking University, Shenzhen
• Prof. WEN Jiahong
  School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai
• Prof. LI Junxiang
  School of Design, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
• Prof. YIN Jie
  School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University
• Dr. LI Weifeng
  Department of Urban Planning and Design, The University of Hong Kong
• Prof. JIANG Ping
  Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University
• Prof. Ralf Ludwig
  Department of Geography, LMU Munich
• Dr. Thomas Kox
  Department of Geography, LMU Munich
• Dr. Anne von Streit
  Department of Geography, LMU Munich

Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather and climate events, which are affecting all countries in especially cities. Developing countries with fast urbanization are particularly at the greatest risk of climate hazards. Left unattended, climate hazards are likely to increase damages, worsen inequalities, exacerbate social insecurity and cause health problems, among other hardships.

The universal consensus attested by the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provides a unique opportunity to build climate resilience for sustainable development by addressing the structural inequalities that perpetuate poverty, marginalization, social exclusion and vulnerability to climate hazards. To be successful, disaster risk reduction and resilience building must be part of a broader development framework which incrementally leads various ways to the empowerment of today’s growing urban areas.

This workshop aims to gather experts from the LMU-ChAN network and to establish research collaboration for long-term investigations of climate change impacts, urban resilience and sustainability in both China and Europe and beyond.

26 November - 8:00/15:00 (1,5h)

Chair:

• Prof. Dr. Martin Högl
  Institute for Leadership and Organization, LMU Munich
• Prof. Dr. CHEN Jin
  Department of Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Strategy, Tsinghua SEM

Further Speakers:

• Prof. Dr. Jelena Spanjol
  Head of Institute for Innovation Management, LMU Munich
• Dr. JIN Jun
  School of Management, Zhejiang University
• Dr. Julia Wimmer
  Managing Director, Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center, LMU Munich

Universities around the globe are facing increasing demands to demonstrate how they contribute to solving grand challenges and addressing sustainable development goals. As a result, research, teaching, and transfer activities are increasingly being evaluated in terms of potential and actual impact. In this workshop, we focus on the centrality of purpose to the research process. Further, we will identify opportunities for and impediments to the accessibility of scientific intelligence and realization of impact. Specifically, the workshop will engage participants in reflections to investigate the question: How can we ensure that the knowledge we produce creates value for society? We will discuss examples for successful knowledge transfer across all disciplines including commercial (e.g., licensing, spin-offs) as well as non-commercial formats (e.g., advisory, co-creation, community engagement).

To structure the interactive session, we draw on a research-based coaching program developed to enable startups to integrate impact and commercial logics. We ask ourselves what impact science has and how we can manage it. We will share workshop insights in a follow-up white paper and provide a self-reflection tool that can be used to continue the discussion at the home institutions. The workshop is open to researchers from all disciplines.

25 November - 8:00/15:00 (2h)

Chair:

• Dr. Dieter Edbauer
  Division of Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, LMU Munich & German Center for Neurodegenerative Disease (DZNE)
• Dr. ZHOU Qihui
  German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)
• Dr. XIANG Xianyuan
  Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institue of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
• Dr. ZHANG Yu
  Department of Neurology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Speakers:

• Dr. PENG Bo
  Institue for Translational Brain Research, Fudan University
• Dr. Anja Capell
  Division of Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, LMU Munich
• Dr. CHEN Xiaofen
  School of Medicine, Xiamen University
• Dr. Qihui Zhou, German Center for Neurodegerative Disease (DZNE), Munich

Neuroinflammation is a hallmark of many neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Microglia is a key immune regulator for inflammatory response in the central nervous system (CNS). In this workshop, we invite experts from LMU and China to present their up-to-date findings covering basic mechanistic studies on microglia to potential therapeutic applications in neurodegenerative disease. These topics provide important aspects not only in basic research but also for clinical application. We seek to establish and expand Chinese-German scientific cooperation to 1. better investigate the importance of microglia in the pathomechanisms of neurodegenerative disease; 2. better understand the crosstalk between microglia and other CNS cells in the context of neuroinflammation; 3. Explore potential therapeutic strategies targeting neuroinflammation.

26 November - 8:00/15:00 (2,5h)

Chair:

• Prof. Rainer Glass
  Neurosurgery, Medical Faculty, LMU Munich
• Prof. Olivier Gires
  Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical Faculty, LMU Munich
• Prof. WANG Hongxia
  Department of Oncology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
• Prof. ZHANG Xiaohua
  Department of Neurosurgery, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Further Speakers:

• MIN Pan
  Department of Otorhinolaryngology, LMU Munich
• Dr. ZHOU Jiefu
  Department of Otorhinolaryngology, LMU Munich
• Dr. LU Tao
  Department of Neurosurgery, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
• Dr. ZHAO Dongxu
  Department of Neurosurgery, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Cell-identity and –plasticity are fundamental but opposing states in allcells of complex organisms. This is exemplified in developmentalprocesses, in which stem cells give rise to differentiating progeny, andin wound healing, where differentiated cells have to gain dynamiccapacity to enable regenerative processes. These processes are wellinvestigated for mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and for the acquisitionof mesenchymal traits in non-mesenchymal cells, - including tumorcells. MSC are recruited to wounds and coordinate inflammatory andregenerative events. Furthermore, Eepithelial cells can adoptmesenchymal features (in a process termed epithelial to mesenchymaltransition; EMT) allowing tissue restructuring. It is also well established that mesenchymal signaling cues derail in tumorigenesis and pose a major barrier for therapy, as EMT provides carcinoma cells with invasive properties and increased resistance to standard therapy regimens.

Experts from different fields of preclinical- and clinical-oncology highlight key-aspects of stemness and mesenchymal biology to expand and refine tumor therapy. This focuses on a fascinating aspect of cell-biology with great clinical importance, and a flourishing area of Chinese-German scientific cooperation. We seek to establish and expand existing Chinese-German collaborations to: 1. better understand the importance of EMT-like processes in the context of tumor biology, 2. better characterize the interaction between the tumor milieu and the tumor entity, and the pathways that transmit and interpret these critical signals, and 3. apply therapeutic strategies based on this phenomenon.

26 November - 9:00/16:00 (2h)

Chair:

• Prof. XIAO Haipeng
  Department of Endocrinology, President of The First Affiliated Hospital, Executive Vice President, Sun Yat-sen University
• Prof. Christian Weber
  Chair in Vascular Medicine and Physician-in-Chief, Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention (IPEK), University Hospital, LMU Munich

Speakers:

• Prof. KUANG Ming
  Dean of the Zhongshan Medical School, Vice President of the 1st Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University
• Prof. PEI Zhong
  Sun Yat-sen University
• Prof. WONG Chi Chun
  Institute of Digestive Disease, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
• Dr. YIN Changjun
  Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention (IPEK), University Hospital, LMU Munich
• Dr. Sarajo Mohanta
  Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention (IPEK), University Hospital, LMU Munich

Unresolvable inflammatory diseases include cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancers representing the major health burdens in Germany, China and worldwide. These diseases have in common that they cause unparalleled human suffering while treatment options are limited. Novel technology tool boxes have been applied to explore the pathogenic mechanisms of these diseases including next generation sequencing (NGS), single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), tissue RNA sequencing, genome-wide microarray RNA profiling, proteomics, imaging technologies and the use of transgenic mice. Using these state-of-the-art methods, large amounts of data are generated that by far exceed the analytical ability of an individual and therefore largely escape human analysis. Therefore, unparalleled new types of complex digitalized analytical tools and new algorithms are needed with the help of large computers. Moreover, enormous amounts of data that are generated by recently developed experimental, imaging and treatment platforms need to be integrated into existing platforms, compared, evaluated and - most importantly - interpreted in skillful ways for the good of our patients. Tools of artificial intelligence/machine learning emerge as forceful new approaches to achieve these goals. In this workshop, we invited experts from the Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU)/Munich, the Sun Yat-Sen University (SYSU)/Guangzhou, and the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)/Hongkong to illustrate the power of combining human and artificial intelligence tools in diseases as varied as atherosclerosis, cancer and Huntington’s disease.

25 November 13:00/20:00 (2h)

Chair:

• Prof. Dr., Karsten, Fischer
  Chair of Political Theory, Institute of Political Science, LMU Munich

Further Speakers:

• Assoc. Prof. Dr. CHEN Wei
  Department of Political Science, Renmin University of China
• Dr. CAI Tingjian
  LMU Liaison Officer in Beijing, LMU Munich

Political thinking in the early phase of the Chinese modernization process in the 19th century is extremely diverse, for the problem of the transformation of the traditional Chinese empire into a modern nation-state with a corresponding state structure was addressed both in conservatism and in republicanism, liberalism and Marxism, which had been already discussed and practiced in the Western context. Despite in-depth research, it has not yet been discovered whether the Chinese discourses on modernization were primarily references to Western models, or independent Chinese concepts. Accordingly, the aim of the research is to find out which autochthonous inventions are to be found in Chinese political thinking of the modernization era, which would challenge the impact-response model of Teng Ssu-yu and John K. Fairbank. This search for possible roots of Chinese liberalism will contribute to understanding the development of the Chinese state and today`s Chinese politics.

26 November - 8:30/15:30 (1,5h)

Chair:

• Dr. Anna Stecher
  Institute of Sinology, Cultural Studies, LMU Munich
• Dr. LI Wanlin
  Peking University
• Dr. Winnie Yee
  the University of Hong Kong

Further speakers:

• Prof. Baisheng Zhao
  Peking University
• Prof. Hans van Ess
  Institute of Sinology, Cultural Studies, LMU Munich
• Dr. Chiara Bocci
  Institute of Sinology, Cultural Studies, LMU Munich
• Raimund Rosarius
  Theatre Studies, LMU Munich

In this panel, we approach the topic of “intelligence” from the perspective of Chinese literature, theatre and cinema. Some of the contributions deal with the representation of various forms of intelligence as expressed within a certain text. Others focus more on intellectual processes which shape the basis for producing or understanding a text.

25 November - 8:00/15:00 (1,5h)

Chair:

• Prof. Friedrich Vollhardt
  Institute for German Philology, Languages and Literatures, LMU Munich
• Prof. Wei Hu
  Department of German Philology, School of Foreign Languages, Peking University

Further speakers:

• Dr. Anna Axtner-Borsutzky
  Institute for German Linguistics and Literature, University Bielefeld
• Prof. Dr. Mingjun Lu
  Guangdong University of Foreign Studies
• Prof. Dr. Barbara Mittler
  Institute of Chinese Studies, University Heidelberg
• Dr. Michael Schwingenschlögl
  Institute for German Philology, Languages and Literatures, LMU Munich
• Prof. Dr. Björn Spiekermann
  Institute for German Literatures, Sun Yat-sen University
• Dr. Joana van de Löcht
  Scientific Assistant, German Institute, WWU Münster

Naturkatastrophen liefern uns Beispiele für die Herausforderungen, vor denen sich die entwickelten Gesellschaften der Moderne unerwartet gestellt sehen: Sowohl die Atomkatastrophe von Fukushima als auch die Wellen der Corona-Epidemie stellen zivilisatorische Bedrohungen, die an historische Ereignisse wie Erdbeben oder Sturmfluten erinnern, die als göttliche Strafgerichte gedeutet; welche Bedeutungszuschreibungen erfahren die Naturkatastrophen in unserer Zeit, der des Anthropozäns?

Der Workshop möchte solche Fragen stellen, in historischer Perspektive und im Gespräch zwischen chinesischen und deutschen Literaturwissenschaftlern.

25 November 8:00/15:00 (1,5h)

Chair:

• Prof. Dr. Jörg Roche
  German as a Foreign Language, LMU Munich
• Prof. Dr. LI Yuan
  German Department, Zhejiang University

Further speakers:

• Dr. Matthias Springer
  German as a Foreign Language, LMU Munich
• Dr. Simone Schiedermair
  German as a Foreign Language, LMU Munich