British Gen Z dedicated to promoting Chinese stories
Editor's note: Luke Johnston is a fourth-year British student at Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU). He is now pursuing a doctoral degree in statistics and his academic orientation is to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) and statistical knowledge with the diagnosis of cancer. Apart from publishing one research paper in Cancer Science and two research papers in Frontiers Genetics, he is an honoree of Shanghai Municipal Government Scholarship and won first prize in the 2022 "Generation-Z Shanghai Stories" Short Video Contest. In addition, he is committed to presenting a real picture of China to the world as seen through the eyes of a foreigner.
A popular blogger speaks for China
As an active blogger on several leading social media platforms, Johnston has often made short videos and photos with illustrations to record his studies and life in China and share personal understanding of the similarities and differences between Chinese and western culture.
Johnston started to follow many bloggers about China on YouTube before he came to the country in 2019. Now he is following their examples to help more foreign people get a better understanding of the country.
Later, Johnston found that China was a totally different country from what he had imagined in the past and that everything was fresh and interesting to him.
Therefore, he has spent much of his extracurricular time travelling around the country and appreciating its diverse historical and cultural heritage. The tours have brought him to Xinjiang, Guizhou, Beijing, Anhui and many other places.
Right now, Johnston has gained a large number of online followers from both China and the west with unique perspectives in covering his travel stories.
The accessibility of wireless network service and the fast development of online payment, to-go delivery and the sharing economy have gone beyond the imagination of Johnston. He also found that China is the safest country he has ever visited.
Although there are some people who question the authenticity of Johnston's short videos and motives, he said what he has done is to record his real life in the country instead of trying to please anyone. He added that he does like the country otherwise he will not stay there.
A journey to experience an exotic culture
Johnston was born in 1996. As a member of the so-called Generation Z, which refers to those born between the mid-1990s and the early 2010s, he is keen to embrace the world and the culture in China.
"Britain is a small island country. Given that I have already received my bachelor's and master's degrees at home, it would be insipid and disappointing if I continued to pursue further education in the country. Therefore, I want to go to a nation with a totally different culture," Johnston said in an interview.
China is the top destination of his overseas study tour because it is a country with a vast land, glorious and exotic culture, and dynamic economic development.
Johnston said that he has studied the discipline of statistics and is interested in AI. What has further firmed up his idea to pursue a doctoral degree in China is that it is a country with the largest publication of AI-related research papers and many prestigious universities.
Johnston submitted an application to SJTU for a doctoral program when he got in contact with a professor, whose academic orientation was connected with the diagnosis of tumor diseases and required the knowledge of AI-based calculation.
Later, he did receive an offer from the professor.
A colorful and fulfilling life in China
Right now, Johnston is dedicated to integrating his AI and statistical knowledge with the design of an artificial and intelligent model in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
So far, he has already published three high-level research papers in relevant fields.
Johnston has done his utmost to lead a life to the fullest and strike a balance between academic schedule and extracurricular life, though there is a huge pressure for him to accomplish his assignments.
He said that participation in sports has not only helped him try new hobbies but also make more friends.
Johnston was invited to attend the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics as a representative of SJTU this February. His short videos about the Games and the Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, earned first prize in the 2022 "Generation-Z Shanghai Stories" Short Video Contest.
Johnston said that he is also deeply interested in Chinese politics and the history and development of the Communist Party of China (CPC).
Noting that the CPC has led the country’s transformation from a poor and weak state to a global power in a span of several decades, Johnston paid a special visit to the former site of the Zunyi Conference in Southwest China's Guizhou province, where the leadership was established of Chairman Mao Zedong (1893-1976) in the CPC Central Committee and the Red Army. It saved the Red Army, the Party and the Chinese revolution from destruction at a critical juncture. The Zunyi Conference is regarded as a turning point in the history of the CPC.
He also visited the Memorial of the First National Congress of the CPC in Shanghai on its centenary this July to learn more about the Party.
However, the life of Johnston in China hasn't always gone as smoothly as he expected to be.
For instance, he cannot watch the live broadcast of British Premier League because of the time difference between the two countries. Moreover, he had to work hard to overcome language barriers in the early days of his arrival in Shanghai.
Right now, Johnston has made large strides in the improvement of his Chinese language proficiency and is willing to record his life in the country with a positive attitude.
Furthermore, he is keen to uncover the unknown world, embrace a new life, and push for his scientific research with persistence and enthusiasm.