Online event held to commend students’ contribution in their own way during the outbreak.
On the afternoon of March 31, an event featuring Fudan undergraduates who shared how they had leveraged their knowledge and skills against COVID-19 was held on Bilibili, a Chinese video sharing website, peaking at over 68,000 viewers.
A screenshot of the online event with Prof. Zhang Wenhong, student speakers and moderators
Liu Jiaxing is a junior student from Fudan Software School. During this pandemic, he worked with students from Fudan School of Public Health to develop a booking system for the sales and distribution of medical masks within Shanghai. The team was able to complete the system in just 16 hours. Now the system is connected to 58 logistics companies, 1100 drug stores and over 6000 residential communities in the city. He applied his expertise to developing the citywide network that helped residents and staff at the primary level. “Equal and timely access to affordable masks is vital to preventing virus transmission. I feel really happy that I could help,” said Liu.
Liu shows the mathematical model of the booking system
Besides physical strains caused by COVID-19, mental health of the public has taken a toll. Wang Ruilin, a junior student from the School of Social Development and Public Policy who studied psychology, volunteered in a mutual aid fellowship in Fudan. Since February, she has been providing online counseling for Fudan students. By the time of this online event, the total duration of her service had totaled 248 hours; and she had given over 1400 replies to inquiries and helped over 100 Fudan students. In addition, she provided personalized solutions for children in Hubei Province who needed company. Wan said, “I want them to know that we will join hands in weathering this difficult time.”
Wang Ruilin
Wen Ruiqi, a junior student from the School of Journalism, participated in a project aiming to bust rumors related to the pandemic through visualizing the information spreading on social platforms. “I did data collection and analysis. It was nothing compared with what medical workers were doing on the frontline, but still I was happy that there was at least something I could do,” said she. Together with her fellow students, she generated an analytical report based on 946 COVID-19-related Weibo posts between Jan. 20 and Feb. 11, clarifying misconceptions on COVID-19 and explaining ways to evaluate the credibility of an information source. “Factuality is at the core of journalism,” Wen said. “This is what I have learned since my first day in Fudan.”
Wen Ruiqi talks how to identify rumors
Li Feihu, a senior student from the School of Mathematical Sciences, kept himself busy the last winter break. He has set up a math study group and volunteered to teach advanced mathematics courses online, and also joined a research team to predict the development of COVID-19 with neural networks. He said, quoting Academician Li Daqian, “It’s essential that we apply mathematical sciences to solving real problems,” and called on his peers to fill the gap between theory and practice.
To educate the public about COVID-19-related laws and regulations, Guo Tiancheng, a sophomore student from the School of Law, has been working with his peers from Fudan Legal Aid Center, a non-profit student organization founded in 1996, writing informative articles and providing legal consultation. “Law is enforced for social stability and harmony,” said he. In his role not dissimilar to that of a legal consultant, he illustrated regulations related to COVID-19 control stipulated by the Law on the Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases and by the Criminal Law. He also worked as frontline community staffer back in his hometown in Liaoning province, his hours on duty totaling 72 hours.
Logo of Fudan Legal Aid Center
Professor Zhang Wenhong from Fudan-Huashan Hospital, one of the most trusted doctors amid the outbreak, also joined the online event. He said he was pleased to hear about the contributions made by these students behind the scene. “It is indeed high time for us to help others and serve the country,” said Zhang.
Looking up to frontline medics and community workers who have shouldered the heaviest responsibilities, these young men and women from Fudan University are exerting all effort within their capability to help others, carrying forward the Fudan’s spirit of unity, service and sacrifice.
Editor: Deng Jianguo, Li Yijie
