Zhang Wenhong, dean of the Institute of Infection and Health at Fudan University, spoke at NYU Shanghai on April 20 on the topic of climate change and public health. The lecture drew a full house at the Dangdang Auditorium, where around 600 students, faculty, staff, and the general public gathered to hear his remarks.
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Last weekend, NYU Shanghai hosted the final leg of the 2025-2026 Sino Foreign University Cup (SFUC), welcoming around 265 athletes from Duke Kunshan University (DKU) and University of Ningbo Nottingham China (UNNC) to battle it out in basketball, volleyball, badminton, table tennis, soccer, and tennis.
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A new line of research co-authored by Assistant Professor of Sociology Lucas G. Drouhot examines how France’s “melting pot” narrative holds up in reality. “What we wanted to know was whether that narrative is actually borne out across generations—or whether, over time, an ethnic hierarchy emerges instead,” he explained.
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Born in the US, AJ Noble '26 spent his early childhood in Singapore– and it was that first exposure to an international environment that ignited a spark in him. Fascinated by other cultures and languages, attending NYU Shanghai was a dream come true. But first, he pursued another dream: representing Team USA in competitive trampoline.Â
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•   On March 28–29, six student teams from IMB Professor Nicole Wang's class Introduction to Mindful Product Management showcased AI-powered product demos at Let’s Vision 2026, a leading developer community event in Shanghai. Presenting alongside professional developers and startups, students collected hundreds of real user feedback and drew interest from potential collaborators and investors. Enabled by AI-assisted “vibe coding,” many non-technical students were able to rapidly ideate, iterate, build, and test real products within a matter of months—highlighting a shift toward more accessible, experience-driven innovation in entrepreneurship education.
• The first NYU Shanghai International Students Chinese Debate Competition, co-organized by the Chinese Language Program and The Collective Voice student club, was held on April 16 with seven international intermediate and advanced level Chinese language students taking the stage. The topic —“Should young people focus more on understanding their strengths or their weaknesses?”—sparked lively exchanges, quick rebuttals, and moments of reflection. Behind the scenes, Chinese Language Program faculty members Lu Ye, Victoria Zhang Qiyi and Xia Ku worked with debate club members, devoting significant effort to making it a memorable celebration of collaboration, learning, and student initiative.
• The Center for Artificial Intelligence and Culture presented the first in a series of seminars on AI & Ethics on April 23. A panel discussion on Soul of the Machine? A Discussion of Claude’s Constitution was hosted by Anna Greenspan ( IMA; AIC), featuring Michael Bruckner ( GPS), Viola He (IMA), Bogna Konior (IMA), Brad Weslake (Philosophy), and Damian Melamedoff Vosters (Philosophy). The cross-disciplinary conversation examined a singular document written about, with, and for AIs—both present and future. With the limits of top-down rule-based programming, and as AI systems increasingly being grown rather than built, they discussed whether we can, or should, attempt to cultivate an ethical character, or even a “soul” of machines. Â
• On April 18, Shanghai Meets the Gulf was held at NYU Shanghai as the University’s first student-led forum on China–GCC relations. Supported by NYU Shanghai Arts and Sciences and China-Gulf Forum at NYU Abu Dhabi, the event welcomed H.E. Alia Al Mazrouei, former UAE Minister of State for Entrepreneurship, distinguished scholars, and entrepreneurs to explore economic cooperation, innovation, and talent mobility across regions. Chancellor Tong Shijun delivered opening remarks. The forum offered a unique opportunity to engage with one of today’s most dynamic and fast-evolving global partnerships, and create mutual understandings between the regions.Â
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Being Green
Everything from potatoes and cabbage to vintage cameras and upcycled clothes were on offer at April 21’s Green Fair, organized by Student Government's Environmental Sustainability Committee. Green Week, organized by Green Shanghai and coinciding with Earth Day, featured a number of events, including a plogging run, lectures on climate and sustainability, and a picnic gathering. Shown: Theodore Tolan '26 (center).Â
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| From the NYU Global Network
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A new study shows we predict words by undergoing a complex process. The research, in Nature Neuroscience, shows we take into account a large linguistic structure, more than what word comes next. "The human brain makes predictions by grouping words into phrases," explains co-author and NYU professor David Poeppel.Â
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• Zhang Wenhong Speaks on Climate Change and Public HealthÂ
The Paper, Wenhui Daily, and Xinmin Evening News are among a dozen of media outlets that covered Professor Zhang Wenhong’s talk on climate and public health, the second installment of the NYU Distinguished Lecture on US-China Cooperation on Climate and Health.
• Actress Joan Chen to Deliver NYU Shanghai Commencement Address
City News Service reported that renowned actor, director, and author Joan Chen will address the Class of 2026 at commencement on May 16.Â
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For a complete listing of events at NYU Shanghai, check out the Weekly Events Newsletter, delivered to your inbox every Monday when school is in session. If you wish to highlight your event in the Weekly Events Newsletter, upload your event to Engage no later than the Thursday before the Monday newsletter.
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