During Dr Hamed Rajabi’s recent visit to China, he had the privilege of spending time at Westlake University (西湖大学), where he visited the research group of Dixia Fan.

He was genuinely impressed—not only by the ambition and quality of the research, but also by the infrastructure and environment supporting it. The combination of custom-built experimental facilities, carefully designed laboratories, and a highly considered architectural vision creates an exceptionally powerful setting for innovation.

What stood out in particular was the alignment between physical space and research needs—from specialised experimental setups, including impressive underwater engineering facilities, to flexible, purpose-driven environments. It is a compelling example of how engineering, architecture, and research strategy can be integrated to accelerate scientific progress.

During the visit, Dr Rajabi and the team had very productive discussions, exploring multiple research ideas and identifying promising directions for joint projects. He is particularly excited about the potential for collaboration moving forward.

Sincere thanks go to Dr. Fan and his team for their exceptional hospitality and for sharing such an insightful view of their work.