On theday of August 19th, 2020, Professor Song Miao from Teagasc Food Research Centre(Ireland) gave a online presentation about culture, education and Agri-foodresearch in Ireland for students of College of Biosystems Engineering andFood  Science. This lecture was a part ofonline international program of our college, aiming to broaden students’horizons and developing international thinking.

In thefirst part, Prof. Miao showed us the splendid Irish culture, including art,literature, food, Irish dancing, traditional music/instruments, pub culture,Irish symbols and the myths behind them. In the second part, Prof. Miaointroduced the situation of higher education in Ireland and the applicationprocedures in detail. As an adjunct Professor in School of Food and NutritionalSciences, University College Cork (UCC), Prof. Miao also introduced theacademic department composition, landscape and culture of UCC in detail, andencouraged undergraduates to apply for its postgraduate programs of UCC. In thefinal part, Prof. Miao introduced the progress of Agri-food research in Irelandand highlighted that food sustainability has been a key issue at present.

At theQ & A session, Prof. Miao answered the questions from participatingfaculties and students in detail. In response to the question about the way ofcooperation between universities and companies in Ireland, Prof. Miao said thatsenior students will be able to participate in the companies’ project for aboutsix months, which will enhance students’ ability and career competence.

Brief introduction of Prof. SongMiao. Song Miao is Senior Research Officer (permanent) and PrincipalInvestigator in Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark and he is AdjunctProfessor in School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College Cork,Ireland. He received his Ph.D. in Food Science and Technology from UniversityCollege Cork, Ireland. and held a postdoctoral position in Teagasc BiotechnologyCentre, Ireland (2005-2006). He joined Unilever Food and Health ResearchInstitute (The Netherland) in 2006 and served as Global Research Manager andLead Research Scientist in Foods Structural Design until he was appointed tothe permanent staff of Teagasc in 2009. Since January 2016 he has beenappointed as Director (Founding) for the China-Ireland InternationalCooperation Centre for Food Material Science and Structural Design.