携手共探宇宙奥秘：清华大学天文系与加拿大理论天体物理研究所签署合作备忘录

携手共探宇宙奥秘：

清华大学天文系与加拿大理论天体物理研究所签署合作备忘录

近日，清华大学天文系与加拿大理论天体物理研究所（Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, CITA）以云端连线的方式签署合作备忘录，正式确立并深化双方的长期战略合作关系。值得一提的是，清华大学天文系是CITA在中国大陆首个与之签署合作备忘录的院系级单位，标志着我校在天文学领域的国际合作与交流迈出了重要且崭新的一步。

本次签约仪式由清华大学天文系系主任李菂教授与CITA所长Shantanu Basu教授作为双方代表共同完成。尽管相隔12小时的时差，但两地学者因对宇宙共同的求知欲而紧密相连。

Shantanu Basu所长在致辞中表示：“虽然我们通过虚拟方式相会，跨越了12小时的时差，但我们的科学共同体始终运行在同一个宇宙的时间轴上。是那些关于宇宙的相同的基本问题将我们紧密团结在一起。” 这番话深刻揭示了双方合作超越地理界限、共同追求科学真理的坚实根基。

CITA是加拿大国家级的卓越研究中心，附属于多伦多大学，在全球理论天体物理学界享有盛誉。该研究所在宇宙学、恒星形成、星系演化、引力波天体物理等前沿领域的理论研究和数值模拟，是推动该领域发展的核心力量之一。

此次备忘录的签署，是对清华大学天文系与CITA之间已持续十余年富有成效的科学合作与人才交流的充分肯定与升华。在过去十多年里，两机构的众多教授团队早已在多个前沿领域形成了紧密的科研合作与频繁的学术互动。清华天文系的多位老师都曾在此学习、工作过。此次签约，将为未来在联合研究项目、学者互访以及高层次青年人才培养等方面开展更系统、更深入的合作建立稳固的框架。

清华大学天文系的白雪宁、李昕宇以及CITA的Ue-li Pen、Pratika Dayal、Peter Martin、Norman Murray等多位教授共同出席了签约仪式。他们的见证，体现了双方科研团队对深化合作的共同期待与坚实基础。

作为CITA在中国大陆的首个院系级合作伙伴，清华大学天文系此次签约是其积极推进国际化战略、构建全球高水平学术合作网络的又一重要成果。双方将继续携手，在探索宇宙的共同征程上，合力攻坚重大科学难题，为拓展人类认识宇宙的边界贡献智慧与力量。

Exploring the Mysteries of the Universe Together:

Tsinghua University Department of Astronomy Signs MoUwith Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics

The Department of Astronomy at Tsinghua University and the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics (CITA) formally established and deepened their long-term strategic partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) via a virtual ceremony. It is noteworthy that the Tsinghua Department of Astronomy is the first university department in Mainland of China to sign an MoU with CITA, marking a significant step in our university's international cooperation and exchange in the field of astronomy.

The signing ceremony was completed by representatives from both sides: Professor Di Li, Chair of the Department of Astronomy at Tsinghua University, and Professor Shantanu Basu, Director of CITA. Despite the 12-hour time difference, scholars from both sides were closely connected by their shared thirst for knowledge about the universe.

In his speech, Director Shantanu Basu movingly stated: "Although we are meeting virtually across a 12-hour time difference, our communities have always operated on the shared timeline of the universe. We are united by the same fundamental questions about the cosmos." These words express a sincere wish to transcend geographical boundaries in the joint pursuit of scientific truth.

CITA is a Canadian national center of excellence affiliated with the University of Toronto and enjoys a high reputation in the global theoretical astrophysics community. The Institute is a core force driving progress in the field, particularly through its theoretical research and numerical simulations in frontier areas such as cosmology, star formation, galaxy evolution, and gravitational wave astrophysics.

The signing of this MoU fully affirms and elevates the fruitful scientific collaboration and research exchange that has existed between the Tsinghua Department of Astronomy and CITA for over a decade. Throughout the past ten-plus years, numerous faculty teams from both institutions have already formed close research collaborations and frequent academic interactions in multiple frontier fields. Several faculty members of the Tsinghua astronomy department have previously studied or worked at CITA. This signing will establish a stable framework for more systematic and in-depth cooperation in the future, including joint research projects, scholarly exchanges, and the cultivation of high-level young talent.

The signing ceremony was attended by Professor Xuening Bai and Professor Xinyu Li from Tsinghua University's Department of Astronomy, alongside Professor Ue-Li Pen, Professor Pratika Dayal, Professor Peter Martin, and Professor Norman Murray from CITA, among others.

As CITA's first departmental-level partner in Mainland of China, this agreement is another significant achievement for the Tsinghua University Department of Astronomy in actively promoting its global strategy and building a network of high-level academic cooperation. Both sides will continue to join hands in their shared journey of cosmic exploration, collaborating to tackle major scientific challenges and exchanging insights as they work to expand humanity’s understanding of the cosmos.

供稿：李昕宇

审核：蔡峥、Chris Ormel