I, Zizhou Ouyang, had the privilege of calling Peking University’s School of Mathematical Sciences my academic home from November 2024 to May 2025, a period that spanned six months from the crisp days of late autumn to the full bloom of spring.
Frozen Weiming lake in Peking with Boya Pagoda in the background

I quickly settled into the research rhythm and joined the weekly group meetings. In these meetings within our research group, postdocs, PhDs, and master's students would take turns sharing their research progress, discussing valuable new papers, and talking through challenges they had encountered. This open and collaborative environment was incredibly beneficial. Every session was a brainstorming opportunity that not only exposed me to many cutting-edge ideas but also frequently offered new solutions to my own research hurdles. I found this collaborative environment to be incredibly supportive.

Ginger cat sitting underneath trees

In addition to my academic work, I also greatly enjoyed daily life on the PKU campus. I learned to recognise the famous campus cats, calm and contemplative, often sunning themselves near the teaching buildings as if they were tenured professors themselves. Peking University has a dedicated student association that systematically cares for them through neutering, adoption programs, and daily feeding, even creating digital profiles for many of the cats. Besides these delightful encounters, the natural landscape of the campus also left a deep impression. I watched Weiming Lake, with the iconic Boya Pagoda standing sentinel, transform with the seasons. When I arrived in late autumn, it was a mirror for the last golden leaves; by winter, it had frozen over, becoming a bustling ice rink. Then, just as remarkably, I watched it thaw and welcome back the vibrant green of spring. Lacing up a pair of skates on that frozen lake was a memorable and joyful experience I never could have planned for.

From the academic breakthroughs to the simple joy of skating on a frozen lake, every aspect of this visit was a transformative experience. And none of it would have been possible without the generous £2,500 award from the Research Degree Committee. I am incredibly grateful for the support that allowed me to undertake this journey, and I would encourage every PhD student to seize such an opportunity if it arises. It’s an investment not just in your research, but in your perspective on the world.