Editorial

Culture is a value sphere created by human civilization as well as a structured manifestation of human civilization. It often takes the form of value norms, behavioural designs and road maps of a community or a group of people and is an invisible force directing people's behaviour. Therefore, the initial design of a culture and its practice have a strong directive effect on the culture's subsequent course, until the emergence of a new cultural revolution that leads the culture into a new era.

Due to the social division of labour and differences in occupations, the cultural traditions and communal habits of people in different regions or of different ethnic groups, countries or industries show distinctive attributes. The scientific community, for example, with scientific discovery and the dissemination and application of science and technology as its missions and principal content, generally focuses on scientific exploration and the importation of scientific knowledge and skills. The community forms its code of conduct on the basis of the scientific spirit rooted in shared values, including being rational, seeking truth, questioning and being beneficial to society.

The University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) was founded by the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1958. One of its core missions was to quickly train top talent versed in both science and engineering to meet the urgent national need to develop atomic bombs, hydrogen bombs and satellites. Its initial design had ‘the whole academy running the university and the research institutes being paired with university departments’ and ‘being both responsible and professional, integrating theory with practice’ as its core values and guides to action. This year marks the 60th anniversary of USTC, which has become a leading tertiary education institution known the world over for its pioneering and highly successful academic activities and free academic atmosphere, and has remained as committed as ever to training trailblazing talent in science and technology.

This issue features five research articles dedicated to the scientific and cultural development of USTC over 60 years, by authors with a deep and intimate knowledge of the university. They examine the subject from different perspectives, including cultural design, educational concepts and academic practice, to look at how the cohesive and guiding force underlying the university has led it from success to greater success as it advances its mission to scale the heights of science and technology.