21 years ago, I left Changchun, my hometown, for Guangzhou, to study at Jinan University, because I thought I had enough of cold and arid winters. 7 years later, I chose to leave the muggy and humid booming city of Guangzhou, and returned to Changchun to join the Changchun Institute of Optics Fine Mechanics and Physics (CIOMP for short), Chinese Academy of Sciences. To be able to work in the Cradle of China Optics. How lucky am I!

2022 is a big year, it is the 70th anniversary of the founding of CIOMP. I am elated to be here to share my story with CIOMP.

Acquaintance
I still remember the first time I heard about CIOMP. It was around 2005. My supervisor invited Prof. WANG Jiaqi (introduced by Prof. CHEN Xingdan), an academician of CAS，to give a lecture to the Physics and Optics departments at Jinan University. The lecture focused on Space Camera development, which was part of the China Manned Space Engineering Project.

Prof. Wang vividly introduced the arduous work put in the development of the two generations of space cameras, including how the whole institute worked for 100 days non-stop. Prof. Wang was humble but very proud of the research achievements he and his team had done. The speech touched everyone, and also planted in me the thought of using my scientific knowledge to serve my country.

Inheritance
The primary responsibility and business of CIOMP is developing the technology of optics and photoelectric instruments to effectively meet the state’s needs, as well as training high-tech talents. Good traditions have been handed down through generations researchers here.

The first day I went to work, Ms. CHU Minghui, my mentor (the Human Resource Dept. required each units should arrange a “mentor” to guide new employees) took me to every administrative department and introduced me and my duties to other staff. During the first few days, I hadn’t got my PC yet, Ms. CHU handed me a copy of the Quality Manual and Procedure Documents, and told me they play very important roles during the process of project management.

CIOMP pays much attention to new employees training. Year by year, the Human Resource Dept. and the top leaders continuously optimize the training program and invite senior and experienced faculties to give lectures, expecting the new comers understand the CIOMP spirits and set up their working plan.

Every weekend, CIOMP Leader Committee would discuss important topics and offer possible solutions and suggestions to the management departments, which is a highly efficient group brainstorm and decision process.

Bring in and cultivate talents are always key words of CIOMP. Every year, CIOMP earmarks about 70 million yuan in support of young talents. In 2013, it offered 30 million yuan to join the Thirty Meter Telescope Plan. In 2016, 36 million yuan was invested to set up an international united lab and absorb talents. From 2018 to now, more than 300 young staff have received support through different CIOMP Talents and Innovative programs at different levels. And I am honored to witness and carry out parts of the above reforms.

Circumstance
Right tool for the right job. In the last 5 years, CIOMP has spent a few hundred million yuan on infrastructure construction and instruments purchase, in order to provide a perfect platforms for the researchers.

Birds of a feather flock together. CIOMP members have a strong sense of mission. In the last 10 years, Prof. BAI Yuhong led her team to build a leading international journal, “Light: Science and Applications”, now No.3 most influential among all optical publications. Tian Gong, Chang E, Tian Wen, Xi He, Tian He, and many other projects CIOMP was involved in have celebrated success and received praise from President XI Jinping. None of these achievements would be possible without the dedications of CIOMP staff and understanding and support from their families.

For those of us who work here, CIOMP is a large family, where everyone is looked after. There is the Serious Disease Fund which supports those suffering illness and financial difficulties, and advocates that the colleagues should help each other. The institute tries her best to strive for the benefits of the staff and lift their worries.

In March of 2022, the pandemic swept across Changchun. Most of the residents were locked down at home. However, with its pandemic prevention and control team ready at the very beginning, CIOMP made meticulous plans and took effective measures which helped to ensure the implementation of annual tasks.

So far, I have been working at CIOMP for more than 5100 days. I am proud of my work and delighted with my colleagues. Finally, I want to say, Happy birthday CIOMP, see you in your 80th anniversary.