2023 Online Summer School: Undergraduates of ZJU Participated in Online Courses of International Polytechnic Summer School

From July to August, 2023, the online Summer School of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, hosted by the Physics Department of Zhejiang University, was successfully held. A total of 31 students from 8 departments of Zhejiang University participated in five courses. This online Summer School, covered professional courses, lectures, vlog experiments, cultural activities and other content, and brought a wonderful exchange experience for students through convenient network.

1. Cross-Cultural Communication and Research

In the course Cross-Cultural Communication and Research, students learned the basic concepts and definitions of culture and communication. The instructor told them how to do business across cultures, and how to achieve a double-win negotiation. Students have learned many effective ways of business communication, such as writing business letters, emails, formal business reports, and proposals. They also learned how to use mass media for effective communication and create press releases. Finally, they learned about the basis of scientific research and digital resources in scientific research. The course was held in the form of scientific practice, with a close relationship of cross-cultural business communication and scientific research. Through lectures, seminars, and business games, students have presented the most important and challenging issues of cross-cultural business, such as verbal and nonverbal communication, and some details of communication with mass media. The online lecture allows the instructor and group members to have on-site conversations simultaneously, further deepening students' understanding and utilization of knowledge. Students have also acquired skills in processing information through learning and the understanding of various digital resources required for scientific research.

2. Space Technologies: Fundamentals

The course Space Technologies: Fundamentals has opened the door to space technology for students. The course first introduced classical cosmic theories, transitioning from the cosmological system built on classical mechanics to the current cosmic landscape. Then the teacher led students delve into the significant technological advancements made since the Industrial Revolution, as well as the myriad of discoveries and inventions that emerged from it. Against this backdrop, the instructor introduced various space technologies to the students, such as laser communication, the circuit structure of nanosatellites, software design for controlling these satellites, how to communicate with satellites via radio, and applications of nanosatellites like remote sensing, etc. At the end of the course, students were paired up to design their nanosatellites and implement specific functions. This course enabled students to understand many modern space technologies, broaden their horizons and allow them to apply the knowledge they learned in practice.

3. Immersion into the Russian Literature, History and Art

In the course Immersion into the Russian Literature, History, and Art, students got a glimpse of the beautiful SPBPU university through online meetings. Over the two-week course, students gained a general understanding of Russian culture, history, and art. The course was divided into three parts: Russian Culture and Traditions, Russian Literature, and Russian Art. In the Russian Culture and Traditions section, students learned about daily communication in Russian, the geographical culture of Russia, traditional Russian folk art, Russian food culture, and Russian handicraft culture, etc. In the Russian Literature and Art section, students delved into the thoughts of Russian philosophers and experienced the charm of Russian art and its dissection of reality.

4. Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion

The course Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, which led students explore the mysteries of particles, consists of two modes: teaching and lecture. It included the basic theories of plasma physics and an introduction to advanced large-scale experimental devices - star simulators and tokamak devices. The instructor first gave a brief overview of the history of plasma physics, introduced plasma phenomena in the Earth and universe, and demonstrated rare gas glow discharge tubes, electrostatic ion balls, and other phenomena through laboratory recording videos. It allowed students to understand various interesting properties of plasma. The instructor wrote calculations on the spot to help students further grasp the knowledge points. Afterwards, the course further introduced the relevant principles of plasma physics in the field of controllable nuclear fusion, including Lawson's criterion and ignition criterion, plasma diagnosis principle, electromagnetic wave plasma heating principle and neutral beam injection, and thus led to cutting-edge research and equipment construction in controlled nuclear fusion. In the lecture section, the instructor started from the basic concepts of plasma physics, led the students review its development process, and introduced the relevant technological frontiers. The course helped students build a deeper understanding of plasma physics. Combining the two parts, students have understood the content of plasma physics, stimulated their interest in this field, not only expanding their knowledge, but also improving their theoretical level, making significant progress in their abilities.

5. Machine Learning: Theory and Application

In the course Machine Learning: Theory and Application, students embarked on an enlightening journey into the realm of machine learning and artificial intelligence. They were guided through the intricacies of machine learning workflows, covering everything from data preprocessing to model training and optimization. With a strong focus on practicality, students became proficient in various machine learning algorithms, including Support Vector Machines, K-Nearest Neighbors, and Decision Trees for supervised learning, as well as K-Means clustering, hierarchical clustering, and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) for unsupervised learning. Moreover, they explored the fascinating world of neural networks, gaining a preliminary understanding of this pivotal aspect of AI. In lectures, students delved into the historical context and core principles of machine learning, while workshops provided hands-on experience in implementing machine learning algorithms using Python. In just two weeks, students underwent a transformative learning experience, solidifying their foundations in AI and Machine Learning and sparking their curiosity for further exploration in these dynamic fields. Their enrollment marked the beginning of a boundless journey into the world of AI and ML.