This Monday, on July, 29, I met with Professor Wu Libing at his office in the School of Computer Science. The little bit of uneasiness I had before the interview vanished the moment I saw him. Professor Wu was amazingly friendly, smiling and much younger than I imagined.
Prof. Wu Libing got his PhD in computer application at Wuhan University. Now he is Deputy Director and doctoral tutor at the Computer Science Department. He is also a member of the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) and senior member of the CCF (China Computer Federation). Wu was Vice-chairman of CCF YOCSEF, Wuhan. Between Mar, 2011 and Sept, 2011, he stayed at University of Kentucky as a visiting scholar. In 2014, Wu was granted the title of “Good Tutor ".
Computer Science and Me
Professor WU received most of his academic education at Wuhan University where he also earned a PhD in Computer Application Technology. He told me he loved this subject because Computer Science is full of challenges and innovation.
LM: Most people consider computer science very dull and laborious. How do you think of it?
Wu: I don’t think it’s laborious. Surely one must think a lot, and spend much time programming and conducting experiments, etc. This process may sound dull to many people. But if the scientist is interested in it, then he won’t be bored. And I think we work in a relatively comfortable environment. We don’t feel any physical strain.
LM: You mean it is one’s mentality that really matters?
Wu: Exactly. We always say happiness comes from the sense of achievement. If you design a program popular among internet users, you will feel proud of yourself and that satisfaction will drive you ahead. So I became more interested in this subject after I got something out of it.
LM: The College Entrance Examination wrapped up last month. For those who want to study computer science, can you share with them some benefits of studying this major?
Wu: First I think studying computer science itself is a great challenge. Because it’s changing every day, we have to update our knowledge and keep up with the times. Thus it is a challenge but also an interesting field. Second, we are living in an innovation-driven society where the Internet is permeating traditional industry; things like Smart City, Big Data, Cloud Computing and Internet of Things are transforming our lives. In turn, this situation creates many jobs, since people that excel at computer science are needed everywhere. Third, we see a bright future in this industry; some big companies such as Baidu, Alibaba, Tencent, Huawei and FiberHome Communication have seen steady growth even during the financial crisis. So the future is very promising.
LM: In terms of the Internet of Things, we know you are working on the project of large-scale network management in the context of IOT. Can you elaborate it a little bit on this project?
Wu: This project is funded by our National Natural Science Foundation. I can explain IOT with an example. If you go to the provincial library, you will find all books are tracked by unmanned E-tag. So you can borrow or return books through electronic devices. IOT gives new meaning to the traditional network management, and what we are studying is how to manage networks in this highly dynamic environment. And besides, we are also taking up another project called Internet of Vehicles, which is about the communication and collaboration between vehicles, sending and receiving information on traffic conditions. This is also connected to energy conservation and emission reduction. In other words, high tech information also contributes to environment protection in some sense.
LM: As well as a teacher, you are also a member of the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) and senior member of the CCF (China Computer Federation). To what extent do these organizations help your research and in what way?
Wu: I think the biggest advantage of joining these associations is that I can share my ideas and methods about scientific research and how to be a good tutor with other members. Besides, the academic saloon provides a platform to improve my presentation skills. Other activities such as popularizing computer science in poor areas are of social significance.
What Makes a Good Tutor?
Professor Wu was selected as a “Good Tutor” in 2014. He considers teaching a journey of discovery rather than recounting something that he already knows.
LM: You have won many prizes in teaching competitions. What makes a good teacher?
Wu: I was inspired by other teachers in a way. I think a good teacher is one who can illustrate esoteric matters using simple words. Many principles and formulas are difficult for students to grasp, but if the teacher can explain them with examples students are familiar with, they are easy to be got across. And we should pay attention to interaction in class. For me, it makes teaching more interesting when the teacher, along with the students, is discovering what’s there.
LM: Do you spend some extracurricular time with your students?
WU: I try to communicate with my students as often as possible. Every week we have a regular session to talk about their study plans and their life to see whether they have any questions or if they feel confused about certain aspects of their courses. I must cheer them up when they are frustrated and give them exhortation when they goof off. I think that’s my duty.
Internationalization of WHU
To build a world class university and enhance the international exchange, faculty, discipline and research outcome are of most importance. And yet, there is a long way to go.
LM: As far as we know, you stayed in University of Kentucky as a visiting scholar, is there anything that impressed you during that journey?
Wu: I remember the students at the University of Kentucky were taking only 4-5 courses in a semester, but they had a lot of homework and did significant research. And they also thought highly of team work. There was a lounge area in the teaching building where students could have lunch together and discuss their study. You know, both individual study and communication are important.
LM: Wuhan University is aiming to expand its international influence and to be a world class education institution. How do you take it from the perspective of a teacher?
Wu: I think three factors are most important when speaking of a world class university—world class faculty, disciplines and research outcome. We need more international teachers of very good quality; we need to create a good education environment to improve our academic influence. And our students should also improve themselves through critical thinking. They should work more, question more, and take nothing for granted. So overall, it takes a long time and persistent efforts to achieve this goal.
(Liu Min is a WHU English correspondent from the School of Foreign Languages and Literature)
(Edited by Diana & Sijia Hu)
