Participants of Fudan-UC Center's annual Social Sciences & China Studies Young Scholar's Conference pose for a photograph. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Students and professors met for the Fudan-UC Center's annual Social Sciences & China Studies Young Scholar's Conference at University of California, San Diego, on May 20 to 21. This is the third year of the conference and also a pre-warming event for the upcoming 2016 Shanghai Forum, which is to kick off on May 28. Social science experts from institutions across China and the US gathered together to present their current research, and share and exchange ideas.

This year for the first time the conference expanded to include PhD students and young professors outside of Fudan University and the University of California system. Attendees include students from the University of Pennsylvania, Yale University, Tsinghua University, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and Colombia University.

The Fudan-UC Center was established four years ago as part of Fudan University's ongoing internationalization. By partnering with University of California, the Center serves as a platform for scholarly exchange and joint research. The founders envisioned this to be a center to serve the whole University of California, headquartered at UC San Diego. The Center has had the chance to host Chinese scholars in the United States, and has given UC faculty the opportunity to attend conferences, such as the Shanghai Forum at Fudan University, in China.

"It's been a very fruitful exchange," said Fudan-UC Center Director, Richard Madson. He described the Young Scholar's Conference as one of the "happiest events" the Center has been involved in.

Out of 85 applications, a selection committee picked 14 to be presented at this year's conference. "It was a difficult selection, but I think we have selected the best," Madson said. "You all are the new generation (of academic leaders) and we want to cultivate and facilitate your growth." said Lei Guang, director of UC San Diego's 21st Century China Program. "We've been able to assemble a great group of scholars. You should congratulate yourselves… Fudan is doing something unique and generous, investing in the public good by engaging and encouraging young scholars."