Receiving a top award, Michael Hood – a foreign academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering – visited Xi'an Jiaotong University (XJTU) on Oct 8. There, the Australian was received by Shan Wenhua, XJTU's assistant president.

Shan extended a warm welcome to Hood and introduced the progress and development of the Western China Science and Technology Innovation Harbour and the University Alliance of the Silk Road. He expressed his university's wishes for practical collaboration with Hood in talent cultivation and scientific research in key academic areas.

Hood expressed his honor in visiting XJTU again and praised the ongoing collaborations with the university.

He also shared his commitment to advancing exchanges between faculty and students and fostering research cooperation in disciplines such as architecture, energy and chemical engineering.

Following the meeting, Shan presented Hood with an honorary professorship certificate from XJTU. The Australian subsequently delivered a lecture entitled "Four rock breaking/drilling technologies involving high-pressure water jets" to the faculty and its students.

Professor Hood receives his award.

Hood is an acknowledged expert in high-pressure water jet research and applications. He is a foreign academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, a distinguished professor at Chongqing University and an emeritus professor at the University of Queensland.

In 1978 he was appointed as an assistant professor at the University of California, Berkeley and in 1982 he became an emeritus professor there. He was awarded the China Friendship Award in 2024.