As a freshman who just arrived at SJTU, participating in this event has been an extraordinary and unforgettable experience. I was incredibly fortunate to have such exceptionally dedicated teammates. After identifying our focus on How to Promote Collaborative Battery Research between Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the University of Minnesota, we systematically mapped out each university's distinctive achievements and potential synergies. One Chinese international student on our team  naturally assumed the role of cultural bridge. Personally, I progressed from initial nervousness during WeChat calls, to relaxed interactions as we grew closer, culminating in our all-out effort during the final presentation. Seeing my teammates deliver their speeches with such effortless grace on the University of Minnesota's stage, I was deeply amazed by their brilliant public speaking skills!

This November, the SJTU-UMN China Bridge Challenge Program will set sail once again! We look forward to welcoming more students to join hands with outstanding peers from both universities, collectively exploring new models of cross-cultural and interdisciplinary collaboration to contribute youthful wisdom and innovative solutions to global challenges.

From February 20th to 28th, nine days and nights were split in two halves by the Pacific. Despite tight deadlines and time zone constraints during final preparations, we persevered through challenges with full team participation. Across two continents, our five-member team pooled collective wisdom through knowledge sharing and dialogue, contributing to the China Bridge initiative as a team. Thorough preparation dissolved my initial nervousness into confident poise for the finals. As the competition concluded, golden sunlight bathed Minnesota while stars shimmered over Minhang district, Shanghai—a celestial celebration of our transcontinental convergence.

It has been my great honor to participate in this China Bridge Challenge Program. Throughout the preparation, I was deeply impressed by our team’s cohesion—every member contributed their insights and wisdom to our proposal. It was friendship and mutual respect that sparked brilliant ideas through our exchanges!

Participating in the China Bridge program has been an extraordinary experience. Our project focused on Renewable Energy and Green Technology Collaboration in U.S.-China Relations, utilizing StoryMap as a medium to facilitate energy data exchange between students from both countries. Through cross-cultural collaboration, we overcame time zone differences and language barriers to work closely with our American teammates. This not only enhanced our communication skills but also provided profound insights into their collaborative approaches, significantly broadening our international perspective. This experience has deeply demonstrated that despite cultural differences between Chinese and American students, shared goals can drive effective synergistic innovation through open and inclusive dialogue. The cultural integration sparked fresh, groundbreaking ideas. I eagerly anticipate more initiatives like this to foster deeper U.S.-China youth collaboration across various fields. May the China Bridge program continue to grow and flourish!

This program centered on two key themes: U.S.-China relations and green technology. Drawing from both daily life inspiration (like regenerative braking ideas conceived during my subway commutes) and laboratory research (metal-doped oxygen electrode coatings), I proposed my strategic solutions. Our team collaborated virtually with three University of Minnesota undergraduates through online meetings. Despite diverse academic backgrounds, we established seamless division of labor, holding weekly progress updates and knowledge exchanges. Our collective intellectual commitment and dedication became the foundation of the team’s success. Moving forward, I hope that I can maintain this proactive mindset in both life and research. Sometimes, combination of inconveniences in daily life and our professional knowledge can spark remarkable innovations!