Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU) launched its chemistry culture festival on April 25. The event showcased the discipline's profound impact through a vibrant combination of scientific rigor and artistic flair.
At the opening ceremony, HZAU deputy Party secretary Li Xiangdong described chemistry as "not only a science written in textbooks, but also a powerful way to understand and transform the world".
A major visual highlight was the "Root of Life" art installation, featuring 580 mineral specimens arranged in a periodic-table-inspired structure. Designed around the concept of green chemistry, the installation symbolized the life force nurtured by chemical elements in nature.
The exhibition zones at the festival were lively with student innovations from various disciplines. Standout projects included an AI-powered system using large language models (LLMs) to design traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions for influenza treatment. Other projects involved a plant-based insect repellent and a fruit preservation technique combining physical and chemical methods.
Interactive activities added a creative and cultural dimension to the festival. Students from various ethnic groups crafted traditional sachets using natural dyes and ethnic patterns, integrating scientific principles with cultural heritage through handcrafted works.
The festival expanded its educational reach to the broader community. In laboratories, volunteers guided visiting primary and middle school students through hands-on, visually captivating experiments to ignite their lifelong curiosity for science.
Through interactive experiences, exhibitions, and competitions, the festival demonstrated the integration of chemistry with AI and the life sciences, fostering a dynamic campus culture of innovation and public engagement.

An art installation titled "Root of Life", designed collaboratively by faculty and students from the College of Chemistry, is exhibited at the chemical culture festival. [Photo/new.hzau.edu.cn]