Introduction:
From the lectern, she nurtures talents; her female elegance shines against the backdrop of the sea and sky. On the occasion of the 115th March 8th International Women's Day, let us access Professor Huang Minghua, one of Ocean University of China’s most distinguished educators and a star of women’s achievements, to witness how she cultivates hope through wisdom in education and scales new heights in scientific research with perseverance, embodying the spirit of contemporary women.
Profile of Professor Huang Minghua:
A Professor, Ph.D. supervisor, German Humboldt Scholar, and Head of the Polymer Materials Department at the School of Materials Science and Engineering, Professor Huang earned her doctoral degree from the Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in 2007. She conducted cutting-edge research at the Max Planck Institute for Colloids and Interfaces, Hannover University, and Ruhr University Bochum in Germany before returning to China in 2013 to join the faculty.As an educator, Professor Huang upholds the Four Haves standards for outstanding teachers, dedicating herself to teaching and research with professionalism and passion. She emphasizes building an innovative education system that integrates science and education while aligning with international practices, fostering an environment of creativity and academic inclusivity to cultivate students’ global perspectives. In talent development, she established a full-cycle mentorship mechanism, focusing not only on academic innovation but also on guiding students to develop sound character.Her contributions have been recognized with accolades including the Outstanding Graduate Supervisor of Shandong Province, Ocean University of China’s Outstanding Communist Party Member, Tiantai Excellence Award, Haichao Talent Award, Taenuo Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education Excellence Award, and Outstanding Undergraduate Thesis Supervisor.
Professor Huang Minghua Delivers Speech as Faculty Representative at Student Graduation Ceremony
Advancing Forward Unceasingly, Venturing into the Unknown to Forge the Future
Against the backdrop of the global energy transition and China’s dual carbon goals, the development and utilization of hydrogen energy and fuel cell technologies have emerged as critical solutions to energy crises and environmental challenges. In recent years, Professor Huang Minghua has steadfastly adhered to the principles of hard work is rewarded by heaven and virtue carries all things, aligning her research with the nation’s dual carbon strategy. Leveraging Qingdao’s unique marine resource advantages, she has focused her work on innovative exploration of green hydrogen production via (seawater) electrolysis and key materials/technologies for fuel cells.
The path of scientific research is fraught with thorns and challenges. With unwavering perseverance and a relentless pursuit of scientific excellence, Professor Huang has overcome numerous technical bottlenecks. In the field of hydrogen production through water electrolysis, she led her team in deepening studies on catalyst activity and stability, aiming to develop novel catalytic materials with both high performance and durability. Through extensive experiments and meticulous data analysis, her team successfully unraveled the intrinsic mechanisms of catalytic reactions and catalyst deactivation under practical operating conditions.A prime example is their work on seawater electrolysis, which required overcoming complex electrolyte systems, catalyst stability in high-salinity environments, and suppression of side reactions. To tackle these challenges, Professor Huang pioneered the design of innovative catalyst structures, including dual-metal single-atom catalysts and core-shell catalysts, significantly enhancing the activity and stability of hydrogen energy catalytic materials.
Looking back, Professor Huang demonstrated exceptional research potential during her student days. As a representative of China’s outstanding doctoral students, she was invited to attend the 56th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting in Germany. Since then, her spirit of excellence has driven her relentless pursuit of academic breakthroughs, a discipline that now permeates her research.In recent years, Professor Huang has taken on leadership roles in multiple national projects, including the National Natural Science Foundation of China’s General Program, Sino-German cooperation projects, and BRICS Science, Technology & Innovation Framework Program collaborations. She has published over 140 papers in top-tier journals such as Nat. Synth., Nat. Commun., Adv. Mater., and Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., and holds 9 authorized patents. Her work has been highlighted as a featured topic in Science magazine.
Professor Huang remains committed to lifelong learning, maintaining a deep thirst for knowledge and reverence for science. She actively participates in academic exchanges to enhance her scientific acumen. In the past two years, she delivered over 10 invited lectures at conferences in cities including Dalian, Tianjin, Haikou, and Hong Kong. In September 2023, she organized a campus lecture tour (Ocean University of China stop) hosted by Tsinghua University Press’s Nano Research editorial board. In October 2024, she served as the chair of an international conference session on green energy and sustainable development at the EcoEnergy conference, contributing to Ocean University of China’s centennial celebration. In November 2024, she co-organized a youth scientist forum at the National Electrochemistry Conference, a gathering of over 4,000 scholars.
Professor Huang Minghua Attends Academic Conference and Delivers Invited Presentation
Moral Education as Foundation: Shaping Souls and Cultivating Minds; Intellectual Development in Parallel: Igniting Wisdom and Opening Hearts
Teachers are like stars—their light, though subtle, guides far-reaching paths. Professor Huang Minghua deeply understands that education is a lifelong mission where every nuanced act can sow seeds of growth in students’ hearts. For years, she has exemplified the principle of establishing oneself through virtue and educating through moral integrity, using her quiet influence to illuminate students’ journeys. As a Communist Party member, she upholds ideological rigor, embodying the Party’s educational policies through personal conduct. She not only cultivates her own virtue but also inspires students through her example, whether by subsidizing students’ Spring Festival travel, donating to charitable causes, or opening lab facilities without expectation of return.She treats students like family, attentively monitoring their academic progress, emotional well-being, and physical health. Academically, she provides meticulous guidance; in daily life, she offers heartfelt care. When students face challenges, she listens patiently and extends unwavering support. Through her unassuming actions, she fulfills the responsibilities of an educator, while quietly showcasing the resilience and compassion of a contemporary woman.
Professor Huang Minghua Invites Academician Li Jinghong of Tsinghua University to Visit the School
Professor Huang Minghua firmly believes every student possesses untapped potential. She often encourages her students:Science is an open arena for dreamers—whether you’re taking your first research steps or building on prior experience. Dare to challenge assumptions, question established norms, and even subvert traditional paradigms. Every experiment, publication, and incremental discovery is a stepping stone toward breakthroughs. Perseverance and curiosity will unlock endless possibilities in your scientific journey.With personalized mentorship, Professor Huang empowers students to shine individually. She has organized over 40 student participations in national and international conferences across cities like Tianjin, Hainan, Dalian, Xi’an, and Changchun, including the Annual Meeting of the Chinese Chemical Society, Electrochemical Energy Conversion Symposium, and International Symposium on Electrocatalysis & Electrosynthesis. Additionally, she sponsors students to attend the Xiamen University Summer School on Electrochemical Research Practices and supports exchanges at Germany’s University of Konstanz.To expand students’ global perspectives, she invites eminent scholars—including academicians and principal investigators from institutions such as Tsinghua University, the National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, City University of Hong Kong, the Canadian Academy of Engineering, and South Korea’s Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology—to campus for collaborative exchanges, fostering connections to cutting-edge international research. Through her unwavering commitment, students have seen marked improvements in their research innovation and academic capabilities.
Professor Huang Minghua Leads Students to International Conference
Professor Huang Minghua Pioneers Talent Development Through Competitions, Fostering Innovative Achievements Upholding the philosophy of nurturing excellence through competitions, Professor Huang Minghua has systematically established a three-tiered competition framework spanning national, provincial, and university levels. Under her guidance, students have achieved outstanding results:19th Challenge Cup National Undergraduate Academic Science & Technology Competition: National Third Prize. China Postgraduate Energy Equipment Innovation Design Competition: Second Prize. Shandong Provincial College Students’ Science & Technology Innovation Competition, Shandong New Materials Industry Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition, and Shandong Provincial Energy Conservation & Emission Reduction Competition: Multiple awards. Her mentees have also secured over 30 prestigious honors, including the National Scholarship, State-Sponsored Overseas Study Fellowship, and Provincial/University Outstanding Graduate titles. By leveraging competitions as a catalyst for growth, Professor Huang has cultivated a cohort of innovative researchers with both technical proficiency and holistic capabilities. Students affectionately nickname her the trailblazer who steers through scientific challenges, a testament to her role in empowering the next generation of scholars.
Uniting Hearts, Cultivating Excellence: Leading with Service and Integrity
As Head of the Polymer Materials Department, Professor Huang Minghua has served as a unifying force, dedicated to fostering growth for students and faculty. With unwavering commitment, she has advanced disciplinary development, program innovation, and laboratory modernization, integrating teaching and administration to create dynamic platforms for success. She orchestrated the China Engineering Education Accreditation for the Polymer Materials and Engineering program, organized professional internships, and supervised undergraduate thesis defenses, nurturing students into proficient professionals. Under her leadership, the department has flourished with a collaborative, supportive culture, achieving notable milestones: program accreditation, inclusion in Shandong Provincial and National First-Class Undergraduate Program rankings, and enhanced academic standing.
In her role as Class Mentor for the 2015 Polymer Materials and Engineering cohort, Professor Huang practices a student-first philosophy. She prioritized cultivating critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and lifelong learning while fostering personal growth through tailored guidance. Recognizing the power of community, she curated symbolic elements like a class logo and anthem, launched a WeChat official account, and initiated annual Memory & Vision sessions to strengthen bonds. Her meticulous care extended to handwritten letters on integrity, homemade birthday cards with warm beverages, and graduation memoirs capturing students’ journeys. These thoughtful gestures deepened camaraderie, leading the class to earn honors including Advanced League Branch, Model League Branch, and Outstanding Class Collective.
Class of 2015, Polymer Materials and Engineering - Graduation Group Photo
In the boundless journey of education, Professor Huang Minghua shines like a guiding star—pursuing excellence in thought, driving progress in work, and persevering through life’s challenges. She understands that the mission of educating talents for the Party and nurturing future leaders for the nation is a never-ending endeavor, marked by commas of continuous effort rather than periods of completion.With unwavering dedication to the noble character of a teacher, she possesses profound wisdom yet remains humble and approachable, harboring aspirations for her students’ success while maintaining indifference to fame and fortune. Through rigorous scholarship, she ignites the flame of knowledge; with a tolerant heart, she sets an example of integrity. In quiet moments, she embodies the moving grace of the Most Beautiful Teacher, standing as a revered role model in the academic community. As we celebrate International Women’s Day, may her story inspire countless women to radiate brilliance in their respective fields, courageously chase their dreams, and write extraordinary chapters of their own.
Text by: Wang Yuxiao, 2023 Master’s Candidate in Materials Science and Engineering
Photos by: Chen Kaiyue, 2023 Ph.D. Candidate in Resources and Environment
