​The Fourth Knowledge, Science and Culture Festival of Shenzhen MSU-BIT University Officially Opens — Academician Alex Kot Delivers the First Academic Lecture

On September 13, the Opening Ceremony of the Fourth Knowledge, Science and Culture Festival was grandly held in the university auditorium. President and Deputy Party Secretary Li Hezhang, First Vice President and Chair of the Academic Committee Sergey Ivanchenko, and Deputy Party Secretary and Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission Chen Chaofeng, together with guests from various sectors of society, attended the ceremony to witness the official launch of the event.

At the ceremony, laser beams were precisely projected onto the main screen of the auditorium, where light and imagery intertwined in a dynamic display. As the audience joined in a countdown — “5, 4, 3, 2, 1—Start!” — the immersive and technologically inspired launch sequence was successfully completed, marking the official opening of the Fourth Knowledge, Science and Culture Festival of Shenzhen MSU-BIT University.

Since 2022, Shenzhen MSU-BIT University, in collaboration with Beijing Institute of Technology and Moscow State University, has jointly organized the Knowledge, Science and Culture Festival. Centered on scientific themes, the festival features a rich array of international academic forums, expert lectures, artistic performances, and science popularization activities, aiming to create an international exchange platform that integrates academia, culture, and public education. Over the past three years, the festival has held more than 500 events, attracting over 300 experts and scholars, including more than 40 academicians from China and Russia, to engage in academic exchange at SMBU. The total online and offline participation has exceeded 600,000 attendees. In October 2024, Dmitry Chernyshenko, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, sent a congratulatory letter, extending his warm congratulations and high expectations for the continued success of the festival.

Academician Alex Kot, Fellow of the Academy of Engineering, Singapore, IEEE Life Fellow, Distinguished Professor at Shenzhen MSU-BIT University, and Chief Scientist of the Faculty of Engineering, delivered the first academic lecture of the Fourth Knowledge, Science and Culture Festival, titled “Crossing Boundaries: An Exploration of Academia and Life.” The lecture was hosted by Professor Jia Yunde, Director of the Faculty of Engineering.

At the beginning of his lecture, Academician Alex Kot explained the inspiration behind the title “Crossing Boundaries.” “After graduating from high school,” he said, “I went to the United States to pursue my studies, later moved to Singapore, and now I am here at Shenzhen MSU-BIT University. My experiences across different countries are deeply intertwined with my personal journey, and through this topic, I hope to share some of my reflections with all of you.”

Academician Alex Kot then recounted four key stages of his academic and personal journey. He began with his childhood and upbringing in Hong Kong, emphasizing how those early experiences shaped his resilience and perseverance. During his studies at Vincennes University and the University of Rochester in the United States, under the mentorship of Professor Chu Ching-Wu, he developed a firm commitment to academic research and talent cultivation. Later, by chance, he moved to Singapore, where he taught at Nanyang Technological University and received the Outstanding Lecturer Award. There, he expanded his research focus from communication signal processing to the fields of artificial intelligence and security, and he also introduced the work of the BOYUAN Search Lab, founded in 2012, detailing its research directions, technological applications, partners, and ongoing projects. In recent years, seeing the promising development prospects of Shenzhen MSU-BIT University, he decided to return to China and join SMBU, hoping to continue his lifelong dedication to education and research.

Drawing from his own experiences, Academician Alex Kot summarized four key lessons that can serve as valuable guidance for young scholars. First, he emphasized the importance of resilience and perseverance — to never give up and never admit defeat. Second, he encouraged maintaining a strong sense of curiosity, noting that “the opportunity to explore new things and apply them to one’s own field is the driving force of research.” Third, he highlighted the need to develop adaptability and an open mindset for continuous learning, always ready to adjust one’s research direction in response to new challenges. Fourth, he underscored the importance of cultivating a global perspective, constantly broadening international horizons, actively collaborating with scientists from countries such as Russia, and engaging in global competition to enhance the international impact of scientific research.

Addressing the new students, Academician Alex Kot offered a series of thoughtful suggestions. He first encouraged them to be bold in innovation, citing Kodak’s bankruptcy caused by its failure to continue developing digital camera technology as an example. Whether in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) or non-STEM fields, he urged students to break conventions and embrace change, emphasizing that only through transformation can one thrive amid development. He then inspired students to break boundaries and pursue their dreams courageously, encouraging them to engage with diverse cultures and people, travel beyond campus, and use imagination to turn challenges into opportunities, steadily stepping beyond their comfort zones. He also reminded them to dare to take risks in new environments. Referring to the entrepreneurial experience of one of his doctoral students, he encouraged the freshmen to remain confident, to experiment bravely, and to take on challenges with determination. Finally, he emphasized the importance of giving back to society—to share knowledge generously, and, when they become mentors in the future, to offer guidance, dedicate time, and contribute their expertise to help others grow.

Concluding his remarks, Academician Kot quoted Laozi: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” He encouraged all students to take their first steps with determination, to grow through perseverance, and to make steady progress on their journey of discovery and achievement.