Shanghai Jiao Tong University Global College (SJTUGC, abbreviated as GC hereafter) hosted the 12th Longbin Distinguished Seminar on October 21, featuring a fireside chat with John E. Hopcroft, 1986 Turing Award laureate and Professor Emeritus at Cornell University. The event, including a ceremony appointing Hopcroft as an Honorable Professor of GC, brought together faculty members and students for a discussion on education, academic research, career choices and the role of universities in the age of artificial intelligence (AI).
Hopcroft is internationally recognized for his contributions to theoretical computer science, particularly the design and analysis of algorithms and data structures, for which he shared the 1986 Turing Award with Robert E. Tarjan. He is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering, a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a Foreign Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He has also played an active role in promoting computer science education and research collaboration in China.
During the fireside chat, joined by GC Deputy Party Secretary and Associate Dean for Research Yanfeng Shen, Associate Dean for Global Engagement David Hung and three student representatives, Hopcroft encouraged students to focus on what genuinely interests them rather than constantly chasing popular research topics or making rigid career plans. He also emphasized the importance of a broad education, noting that students in science and engineering should complement their technical studies with knowledge of the humanities and social sciences to develop a fuller understanding of the world.
Discussing the development of young faculty members, Hopcroft stressed the importance of creating an academic environment that gives researchers time and freedom to pursue their interests. Reducing unnecessary administrative duties and teaching loads, he said, can help faculty members devote more time to research. Their enthusiasm for discovery can, in turn, inspire students.
He also shared his approach to supervising doctoral students. Rather than assigning research topics or requiring meetings on a fixed schedule, he keeps his office open and encourages students to identify questions independently. This approach gives them room to develop their own ideas and pursue original research.
In response to questions about learning in the AI era and changing direction when an initial choice proves unsuitable, Hopcroft said that memorizing factual knowledge is less important than developing intuition through independent exploration. Students need not deliberately seek out problems that appear important or fashionable. Pursuing questions they find genuinely interesting may lead to meaningful discoveries. Drawing on his own research experience, he encouraged students not to be discouraged when others question the value of their ideas. The long-term significance of a discovery is not always apparent when it is first made, and even researchers may not immediately recognize the impact their work will eventually have.
At the appointment ceremony, Chairman of the GC Council Yanchun Yang presented Hopcroft with a certificate appointing him as an Honorable Professor of GC. Yang said Hopcroft’s appointment would strengthen the college’s academic development, support the cultivation of outstanding innovative talent and expand international academic collaboration. GC will also use the opportunity to further integrate computer science with engineering education and enhance its international engagement.
The event continued with an open Q&A session, during which faculty members and students raised questions about the role of universities in the AI era and the mathematical modeling of AI systems. Hopcroft responded to the questions and later continued conversations with students on the fourth-floor atrium of Long Bin Building, discussing challenges they encounter in their studies and research.
Before the seminar, GC leaders met with Hopcroft to exchange views on recruiting leading scholars, supporting the long-term development of young talent, reforming undergraduate computer science education and designing pathways for outstanding students.
The seminar marked the opening of GC’s science and technology festival, supported by the Bosch China Early Talent Program. Upcoming activities include a science camp, a Global Scholars Lunch and a young scholars forum. Together, these initiatives aim to foster academic exchange and provide students and faculty members with broader opportunities for learning, research and professional growth.
