Recently, internationally renowned chemist Professor Wei Zhang, a recipient of the Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship and former Chair of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Colorado Boulder, officially joined Great Bay University (GBU) in China as a full-time faculty member. He has been appointed Chair Professor and Associate Dean of the School of Materials Science. According to available information, Great Bay University was officially established in Guangdong Province, China, in June 2025. Positioned as a high-level, research-intensive, internationally oriented institution with a "small but elite" model, the university focuses on fundamental and frontier scientific research to support China's major national strategies and the socioeconomic development of the Greater Bay Area. It is committed to building a new research university that is world-class, open and inclusive, and distinguished by its Greater Bay Area identity. Professor Wei ZhangProfessor Zhang received his bachelor's degree from the College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering at Peking University before pursuing graduate studies in the United States. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign and subsequently completed postdoctoral research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He later joined the faculty of the University of Colorado Boulder, a leading research university internationally recognized for excellence in physics, chemistry, aerospace engineering, and other scientific disciplines, and home to numerous Nobel laureates. Professor Zhang was awarded tenure in 2014, promoted to Full Professor with tenure in 2018, and has served as Chair of the Department of Chemistry since 2022. Professor Zhang's research focuses on functional polymeric materials enabled by dynamic covalent chemistry. His work has consistently bridged fundamental chemistry and practical applications, spanning two-dimensional materials, porous organic materials, sustainable and recyclable polymers, molecular separations and carbon capture, flexible sensing devices, and materials for all-solid-state batteries. Together, these efforts form a highly interdisciplinary research program that extends from molecular design to functional materials and onward to applications in energy, environmental technologies, and electronic devices. In recognition of his outstanding scientific contributions, Professor Zhang has received the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award and the Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship, and has been elected a Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). He has also been named a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher for two consecutive years. The Sloan Research Fellowship is widely regarded as one of the world's most prestigious early-career scientific honors, with many of its past recipients later going on to win the Nobel Prize.
On 26 June 2026, during a virtual meeting between Professor Shireesh Kedare, Director of the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay), and Dr. Timothy E. Sams, President of the State University of New York (SUNY) at Old Westbury, the two institutions announced a landmark academic partnership. The announcement was made in the presence of Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon'ble Union Minister of Education, Government of India; Dr. Vineet Joshi, Secretary of Higher Education, Government of India; and Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra, Ambassador of India to the United States. Under this partnership, IIT Bombay and SUNY Old Westbury will collaborate to develop new educational and research opportunities at SUNY Old Westbury's campus on Long Island, New York. The collaboration will be formalized through a Letter of Intent signed by Professor Shireesh Kedare and Dr. Timothy E. Sams in the presence of Consul General Binaya S. Pradhan. The two institutions will work together to develop academic programs across undergraduate, postgraduate, and research levels in science and engineering, with an initial focus on emerging fields such as artificial intelligence. They will also establish a framework for collaborative research initiatives. "IIT Bombay is recognized as a world-class institution," said Dr. Timothy E. Sams, President of SUNY Old Westbury. "We are excited to establish a direct partnership that advances excellence in teaching, innovation, and research in disciplines such as physics and engineering. Our goal is to build a strong IIT Bombay presence on our campus and, together, prepare the next generation of leaders who will drive innovation and economic growth across our region, our state, our nation, and the world." The initial phase of cooperation is expected to include faculty and researcher exchanges, joint research projects, and the organization of joint conferences and academic symposia. These activities will lay the foundation for the future development of joint academic programs and degree offerings. India's Minister of Education, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, welcomed the partnership, describing it as "a living corridor of knowledge between India and the United States." He noted that the collaboration would create "win-win opportunities" for students and scholars in both countries while advancing research and innovation in frontier technologies. According to media reports, IIT Bombay will establish its first overseas sub-campus in the United States through this partnership with SUNY Old Westbury. The first certificate programs are expected to be launched in 2027. The proposed sub-campus will enable IIT Bombay to deliver its academic programs from the SUNY Old Westbury campus. Speaking at a virtual press conference, Professor Shireesh Kedare explained, "Establishing an entirely new campus in the United States would have required land acquisition and multiple regulatory approvals. By partnering with an existing American university, we can bypass these administrative processes and focus our efforts on developing high-quality academic programs." The initial certificate programs will focus on artificial intelligence, sustainability, and clean technologies. Over time, the collaboration is expected to expand to undergraduate, postgraduate, and research programs in science and engineering, serving students from the United States, India, and around the world. About IIT BombayEstablished in 1958 as the second Indian Institute of Technology, IIT Bombay is internationally recognized as one of India's premier institutions for science, engineering, technology, and research. On 9 July 2018, the Government of India conferred upon IIT Bombay the status of an Institution of Eminence, recognizing its outstanding academic and research achievements. IIT Bombay is renowned for its distinguished faculty, world-class research, strong industry partnerships, and the exceptional quality of its graduates. The Institute comprises 81 academic departments, centres, and interdisciplinary programmes. Over the past six decades, it has educated more than 75,000 engineers, scientists, and technology professionals. The Institute is home to approximately 760 full-time faculty members, including 121 women faculty, in addition to 241 part-time faculty members. Its faculty are widely recognized both nationally and internationally for their excellence in teaching, research, and innovation.
Dame Anne Pringle has been elected Chancellor of the University of St Andrews on 24 February 2026. She secured a majority of votes in an election also contested by Dame Barbara Woodward, Lord Mark Sedwill, and Lady Alex Walmsley. Pringle is the first woman to hold the office in the university’s more than 600-year history. She succeeds Lord Campbell of Pittenweem, who died last year. Born in Glasgow, Pringle studied at St Andrews and graduated with an MA (Hons) in French and German in 1977. She later became the first woman to serve as the United Kingdom’s Ambassador to Russia from 2008 to 2011, and earlier served as Ambassador to the Czech Republic from 2001 to 2004. Following her diplomatic career, she held leadership and governance roles across business, culture and academia. From 2016 to 2020, she served as Senior Governor of the University Court at St Andrews.
LSE has appointed Jane Cunliffe as the School’s next Chief Operating Officer (COO) on 10 March 2026. Cunliffe joins LSE from the UK Department for Education, where she has served as Chief Operating Officer since 2022. Before that, she held senior roles across several UK government departments. These include the HM Treasury, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Cabinet Office. Earlier in her career, Cunliffe was Chief Financial Officer at Oxfam GB. She oversaw finance, legal and governance functions and helped guide the organisation through the Covid-19 period. Cunliffe also holds several non-executive roles. She is a board member and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee at St Mungo’s. She has also served as a trustee at The Howard Partnership Trust.
The University of Hong Kong (HKU) held its HKU@Shanghai event series from 28 February to 1 March 2026 to celebrate the University’s 115th anniversary and announced four strategic bases in Shanghai. The event brought together representatives from the Shanghai municipal government, universities, and the research community. Several Nobel laureates and Fields Medalists also attended. HKU said Shanghai is a major hub for economic, financial and technological innovation, making it an important location for the university’s expansion. During the event, HKU announced four strategic bases in Shanghai: Zhangjiang Base, Caohejing Base, HKU Shanghai Headquarters, and Bund SOHO Base. These bases will serve as platforms for academic exchange, technological innovation, and industry collaboration.
On March 2, 2026, US President has nominated Jim O’Neill as director of the National Science Foundation (NSF), potentially making him the first leader of the agency without a science or engineering background. The nomination has been sent to the US Senate for confirmation. O’Neill previously served as deputy secretary at the US Department of Health and Human Services and briefly as acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He has also worked in technology investment and was chief executive of the SENS Research Foundation. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Yale University and a master’s degree from the University of Chicago, both in the humanities. If confirmed, he would become the first NSF director without an advanced degree in science or engineering. The NSF director role has been vacant since Sethuraman Panchanathan stepped down in April 2025.
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