Karl Heinrich Marx once said that the making and using of tools is the fundamental hallmark that distinguishes humans from animals. Throughout the long history of millions of years of human evolution and social development, the renewal of tools has time and again become a symbol of the era and an important driving force for humanity to accelerate its understanding and transformation of the world, including human beings themselves.

As time passes, today, the historical process of "tool making" continues to unfold new stories: instruments, as a new expression of "tools," such as measuring instruments, astronomical and geodetic equipment, industrial production equipment, and medical diagnostic and therapeutic devices, have become the crystallization of human wisdom and useful tools for extending human perception and operational capabilities; Instrument Science and Technology has also become the most direct discipline that carries the historical mission of "tool making." To date, more than 40 Nobel Prizes have been awarded to instrument inventors worldwide, and most Nobel Prizes in Physics, Chemistry, and Physiology or Medicine have been completed with the aid of various advanced instruments; instrument science is an important leader and driver of global innovation and development.

The discipline and major of the School of Instrument Science and Engineering at Southeast University were established in 1960. The School has always adhered to the philosophy of "serving national strategies and social needs." After decades of unremitting development, it has become a highland for cultivating internationalized innovative talents and a national strategic science and technology innovation base, with profound cultural heritage, distinctive disciplinary features, a wealth of leading talents, active academic thinking, and fruitful research achievements. The faculty and students of SEU-ISE have also forged the fine tradition of "integrity, simplicity, diligence, and perseverance" through continuous dedication and struggle.

Today, the world's science and technology are advancing rapidly, innovation has become the core driving force of science and technology, and multidisciplinary cross-integration is the breeding ground for innovation. The instrument discipline has typical characteristics of interdisciplinary research. Its development is closely related not only to advances in basic disciplines such as physics and life sciences, but also to advances in engineering frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence, electronics, and materials. A new generation of instruments characterized by "novelty," "extremity," "ultra-precision," and "intelligence" is emerging continuously. New principles and technologies for advanced sensing, intelligent perception, robotics, satellite navigation, and high-end medical equipment are emerging one after another. Instruments have become one of the most active and vital disciplines in frontier science.

One hundred years ago, Mr. Li Dazhao addressed the youth: "I wish my dear youth to advance without looking back, to turn their backs on darkness and face the light, to bring civilization to the world and create happiness for humanity..." For more than a century, Southeast University, renowned as the "sacred place of learning" and "the foremost of the Southeast academies," has been ever-renewing, practicing the university way of "Striving for Perfection," and forging the spiritual pursuit of "Renown through Science, Service through Talent ". Appreciate the beauty of science, analyze the profound principles of all things, gather the knowledge of the universe, and build the foundation of talent. Listening to the words of the masters and bearing in mind the mission of SEU, our youth in the instrument discipline are living in a time of great opportunity and should shoulder the responsibility of strengthening the country through instrumentation, letting their youth bloom brilliantly in the fiery practice of striving and innovation.

Dean of the School of Instrument Science and Engineering:

Liu Chengyu