Welcome. Thank you for the honour of speaking to you today. It is a privilege and a pleasure to represent the faculty of Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School at the 2014 Opening Ceremony. Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School is well-known throughout the world. We are very excited to participate in its development, to cooperate in increasing its international profile, and to contribute to the advanced education of our outstanding students, who are destined to be among the leaders in their chosen careers in the future. We also have the great opportunity and the good fortune of being able to contribute to the development, growth and internationalisation of Shenzhen, one of the most dynamic, most innovative and most beautiful cities in China and in the world. On behalf of our faculty, welcome to our Opening Ceremony.
Now, I would like to address my remarks mainly to our new and continuing students.
A RESEARCH PROJECT FOR LIFE
Since the beginning of my teaching career, I have always been a very active researcher. Please join me today in a simple exercise. Let us imagine that we all are involved in a cooperative research project. Let us give our joint project a working title. Let us call it ‘A Research Project for Life’
In carrying out research, we need to formulate a research question. This research question will tell us what the research is about. It will help us to develop hypotheses, it will identify what information is relevant, and it will enable us to know whether and when we have achieved our objectives. Our research question today should be relevant to all of us, regardless of our different responsibilities, interests or future plans. Let me propose a research question to guide us all in our continuing cooperation. The question is: What can we each contribute to our cooperative project called ‘A Research Project for Life’?
Today, briefly, I would like to give you my personal answer. My personal answer consists of three parts. First, good health is the foundation. Second, education is the best gift. Third, passion is for life.
GOOD HEALTH: THE FOUNDATION
First, good health is the foundation. Good health is the greatest privilege a human being can imagine. In thinking about good health, we can identify two elements. The first element is diet. The second element is exercise.
By ‘diet’ I mean simply ‘what we eat’. I do not mean any particular prescription about how to lose weight or produce a physically beautiful person. Instead, as many people say, ‘we are what we eat’. We do not have to be specialists in food safety law and policy to know instinctively that this is true. If we do not realise the truth of this saying already, we will learn it as we grow older. Paying attention to what we eat will pay dividends throughout our life. This is not limited to each of us as an individual, however. All of us are well-educated citizens. As a result, we have a clear responsibility to think about and to promote the production and distribution of healthy food.
About exercise, let me give you a personal example. I started playing sports as a small child. I have never stopped. Of course, the sports themselves have changed along the way: from running to jogging to walking; from underwater racing to lifeguard training to gentle swimming; and from squash to tennis to imagining my grandchild as the next Roger Federer or Li Na! The important point is exercise, not the specific sport itself, for three reasons. First, exercise is the best recipe we human beings have for being able to enjoy a long life. Second, sport is an ideal vehicle for personal physical and intellectual development. Third, through sports we can make friends, develop ways of cooperating with other people, and learn to work together. Together with diet, exercise is the basis of good health as a foundation for life.
EDUCATION: THE BEST GIFT
Second, education is the best gift for a lifetime. This is why we are all here.
Focus first on the word ‘education’. By this, I mean that our education provides the best foundation for a lifetime of personal development, of exploration of our rapidly changing world, and of lifelong learning. Last spring I went back to a class reunion at my undergraduate alma mater, Yale University. It was a moving experience to renew friendships with classmates whom I had not seen for many years. The marvellous opportunity of studying at Yale shaped our lives. We all had been inspired by our outstanding education. Of course, education is not limited to any particular institution of higher education. For us all here now, today is a special day. Whether you are in your first year here or are a continuing student, today is a new point of departure. It will underlie, contribute to and shape what you do in the future.
Focus next on the word ‘gift’. To say that ‘education is the best gift for a lifetime’ does not mean that education is something which we receive without cost and which we receive passively. A good education is often not free from the financial point of view. In addition, if we want a good education, we must invest in ourselves by investing ourselves. We must be active participants.
Focus finally on the word ‘lifetime’. A good education does not end when we walk out the door of our School, with our diploma in hand. Our time here is part of a process of lifelong learning, in which I believe and in which we all are engaged.
PASSION: FOR LIFE
Third, passion is for life. I mean this in two related senses. Passion creates, sustains and enhances life. Moreover, passion should be lifelong.
Passion comes in many forms. We have passion for those people close to us and whom we love, whether partners, family, friends and other loved ones. We have passion for fellow students and for teachers. We have passion for institutions, such as Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School. We have passion for hometowns, for cities, and for countries. Passion is an essential part of a fruitful life. We are here to develop our passion for learning and for life.
Let me again give you a personal example. All my life, I have been fortunate enough to enjoy a passion for learning. When I was much younger, I tried to describe this passion to myself. I imagined it in the form of a picture. In the picture, there seemed to be too many ideas trying to come out of my forehead. My obligation to myself was to help them to do so, and to express them in written form. Writing is difficult, as we all know, and I have been struggling with – and enjoying – this challenge all of my life. For me, a passion for learning meant, partly a passion for research.
CONCLUSION
Now let me conclude. The joint research project which I have encouraged us to share today is not imaginary. Actually it is our real cooperative endeavour. At Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School we are all engaged jointly in a research project for life.
I have asked myself what I can contribute to our joint project. I have tried to suggest three points. First, good health is the foundation. Second, education is the best gift. Third, passion is for life.
Now I invite you, dear students, to contribute to our cooperative project. Not only during your time here at Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School but during your whole life.
Thank you for your attention and for the opportunity of speaking to you today. On behalf of the faculty of PKUSZ, let us welcome the opening of the 2014-2015 academic year.
大家上午好，今天很荣幸站在这里，代表北京大学深圳研究生院的全体教职员工，在2014年的开学典礼上致辞，也很开心能够代表我所尊敬的同事们和大家进行交流。我们都很珍惜这个在北京大学深圳研究生院教学和开展研究的机会。北京大学深圳研究生院是世界著名的学府，我们很高兴能参与她的发展，提高她的国际形象，并促进和提升我们的优秀学生的教育，他们注定要在自己未来选择的职业中成为领导人。同时，也让我们有很好的机会和运气能够促进深圳，这个中国乃至世界最有活力、最具创新性和最美丽的城市之一，逐步发展、壮大，走向国际化。我谨在此代表全体教职员工，欢迎大家来到我们的开学典礼。
接下来，我的发言主要是针对我们的新同学以及继续在这里就读的同学们。
一项关于生活的研究
从一开始在我的教学生涯中，我一直是一个非常活跃的研究人员。今天请大家和我一起，做一个简单的练习。想象我们都参与了一个合作研究项目，首先让我给我们的合作项目起个题目，让我们称它为“一项关于生活的研究”。
在开展研究时，我们需要先制定一个研究问题。这个研究问题会告诉我们这个研究是关于什么的。这将有助于我们开发假设，确定哪些材料是相关的，并使我们能够知道我们是否已经达到了我们的目标或者什么时候能够达成我们的目标。不管我们目前的职责、兴趣、研究对象或者未来的计划是否相同，我们今天研究的问题应该是和我们所有人都相关的。让我提出一个研究问题，它将贯穿我今天所要和你们交流的内容，并引导我们以后继续合作。我的问题是：我们每个人可以给我们这个名为“一项关于生活的研究”的合作项目贡献什么？
对我自己来说，这个问题需要改述一下。我想请问：一个拥有大量国际经验的资深教授可以贡献什么，才能有助于你们这些优秀的研究生的生活？现在，简单地说，我想给你们我个人的答案。它不仅限于某个人的研究课题或具体的学习计划。相反，它着重于你们在北京大学深圳研究生院的生活以及你们美好的未来。我个人的答案由三部分组成。首先，身体健康是基础。其次，教育是最好的礼物。第三，对生活有热情。
身体健康：基础
首先，在我们这个“关于生活的研究项目”中，身体健康是基础。健康是一个人所能想象的最大的特权。在考虑身体健康时，我们可以找出两个元素。第一个要素是饮食。第二个要素是运动。
关于“饮食”，我只是指“吃什么”。我的意思不是那些怎样让人身体美丽，或者怎样减肥的特别的处方。相反，许多科学家、记者和普通民众纷纷表示，“我们吃什么，便成为怎样的人”。我们不必在食品安全、法律和政策方面成为专家，也能本能地知道这是真的。如果我们还不知道这句话的真谛，随着年龄的增长我们将慢慢了解。关注我们吃什么将会使我们在整个生命中得到回报。然而，这并不局限于我们每个人作为个体存在。我们都是受过良好教育的公民。因此，在我看来，我们有明确的责任去思考和促进健康食品的生产和配送。
关于运动，或者更准确地说，关于锻炼，让我给出我自己的例子。当我还是个小孩子的时候，我开始做运动，至今从来没有停止过。当然，运动本身已经在过程中发生变化：从奔跑到慢跑再到步行；从水下竞赛到救生员训练再到温和地游泳；从壁球到网球再到现在想象着我的孙子孙女作为下一个费德勒或者李娜！最重要的一点就是运动，而不是具体的运动本身，原因有三。首先，运动是我们人类所拥有的能够延年益寿最好的配方。每个人都有自己喜欢的运动，并且经常性的运动是幸福生活的重要组成部分。其次，运动是使个人身体和智力发育的理想工具。例如，我们将学习如何为自己设定目标，如何挑战自己，并如何努力实现我们的目标。生活中充满挫折，但也充满成功。在运动中，我们通常在失败中学到的和在成功中学到的一样多。例如，我们学习到了，挑战可以是机会的另一种表达方式。我们知道了，当一扇门关闭时，另一扇门将会为你打开。第三，通过体育，我们可以结交朋友，发展与其他人合作的方式，并且学会怎样一起工作。再加上饮食，锻炼和运动是身体健康的基础，而身体健康是生活的基础。
教育：最好的礼物
第二，教育是一生最好的礼物。这就是现在为什么我们都在这里。
首先，集中在“教育”这个词上。我这样说的意思是，我们的教育为我们的个人发展、得以探索这个迅速变化的世界以及终身学习提供了一辈子最好的基础。去年春天，我又回到了在我的本科母校耶鲁大学举办的同学聚会。这是一个感人的经历，见到了我很多年没有见到的同班同学。我被我们所接受的出色的教育给我们带来的启发震惊了。我们都很感激曾有过这样一个极好的机会，塑造了我们整个的生活。当然，教育不仅限于耶鲁大学、北京大学深圳研究生院，或者任何其他高等教育机构。不过，今天是一个特别的日子。无论你是在这里的第一年，或者是继续在这里就读的学生，今天是你未来生活的新起点，它将有助于塑造你的未来。
接下来，关注下这个词：“礼物”。如果说“教育是一生最好的礼物”，并不意味着教育是我们不用付出什么而得到的，或者说是我们被动接受的东西。一方面，从财务角度来看，良好的教育往往不是免费的。我们都明白这个事实的诸多含义。另一方面，为了拥有一个良好的教育，我们必须是积极的参与者。如果我们希望有一个良好的教育，我们就必须投资于自己。教育就意味着努力学习。这也是我们在这里的部分原因。
最后集中在这个词：“一生”。当我说，“教育是一生最好的礼物”，我的意思是，一个良好的教育能够使我们在我们的整个生命中，发展我们自己的潜能、发掘我们自己的天赋，并开拓我们的视野。当我们走出北大深圳研究生院的大门，良好的教育并没有随着我们手中的文凭而终止。你们在这里的时间，准确来说是我们在这里的时间，是我相信并且我们都参与了的终身学习的过程。
热情：对生活
第三，对生活有热情。我这样说有两层含义。从某种意义上说，热情应该是终身的。在另一种意义上说，热情会创造、维持并且提高生活。这两种意义相辅相成。
热情的形式有多种。我们对那些亲近我们和我们爱的人有热情，不管他们是合作伙伴、家人、朋友或者其他亲人。我们对同学和老师有热情。我们对机构有热情，比如北大深圳研究生院。我们对家乡、城市、国家有热情。热情是我们丰富的生活和学习中必不可少的一个重要组成部分。我们将在这里开发我们对学习和生活的热情。
给大家一个我个人的例子。在我的生活中，我已经足够幸运，能够享受对学习的热情。在我年轻的时候，我试图用简单的言语定义这种热情。不知不觉地，我把它想象成图像的形式。在那个图像中，我的脑海里似乎有太多的想法。所有的想法都试图走出来，而我的义务是帮助它们有秩序地这样做，然后用书面的形式表达出来。大家都知道，写作是困难的，我一直在挣扎并且享受这个我贯穿我全部生活的挑战。对我来说，对于学习的热情部分转化成了对研究的热情。这种热情是一种快乐，是每天灵感的源泉。
结论
现在让我来总结下。今天我鼓励大家分享的这个联合研究项目不是虚无缥缈的。它实际上是我们真正的合作和努力。在北京大学深圳研究生院，我们合作参与了一个关于生活的研究项目。我已经问了自己我可以对我们的合作项目做出什么贡献。现在，最后，我问你，我们的学生，你在这里，在北京大学深圳研究生院，你能做些什么，来有助于我们的联合研究项目。在我今天简短的发言中，我试图提出三点。首先，身体健康是基础。其次，教育是最好的礼物。三，对生活有热情。
再次感谢今天这个和大家交流的机会，谢谢大家的聆听。我谨代表北京大学深圳研究生院的全体教师，欢迎2014-2015学年的到来。
