A Personal Perspective on Doing Good Research Seminar Series – Prof Song Yongduan: Analysing the key elements of research transformation

The final session of the A Personal Perspective on Doing Good Research Seminar Series for the 2025/26 academic year, organised by the School of Graduate Studies of Lingnan University, was held on 9 April 2026, when Prof Song Yongduan, Dean of the School of Data Science and Henry Y. W. Fong Chair Professor of Industrial Data Science’s inspiring talk “My Research Journey: Self-confidence and Hard Work are the Twin Pillars of Good Research” attended by about 50 faculty members and students sparked a vibrant academic exchange.

Prof Song is an internationally known scientist in neuroadaptive control, whose research covers intelligent systems, guidance, navigation and control, and bio-inspired adaptive and cooperative systems, with a particular focus on data-driven control and machine learning methodologies. In November 2025, he was elected a Foreign Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

In addition to his research, Prof Song actively contributes to the global academic community, and has published 12 books, over 400 papers, and holds 100 patents issued in China, the US, and Japan. Having served as an Associate Editor for leading international journals, he is currently the Editor-in-Chief of IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks and Learning Systems. In recent years, Prof Song has been recognised repeatedly as one of the World’s Top 2% of Scientists by Stanford University, and listed among Clarivate’s most highly cited researchers.

Prof Song talked about his academic journey, focusing on confidence and hard work as the two driving forces of research excellence. Drawing examples from his pioneering work in nonlinear system control and intelligent robotics, he explained that self-confidence empowers researchers to question and innovate, while diligence transforms ideas into verified achievements. He described this interaction as a “dual-wheel drive” that sustains long-term progress. Prof Song asked young scholars to maintain their enthusiasm for discovery, face setbacks with composure, and keep moving forward step by step as enduring curiosity and love for science are the ultimate sources of great research.

Prof Song also explained that a breakthrough comes from disciplined persistence rather than spontaneous inspiration. He argued that "down-to-earth effort” creates the essential foundation for insight, while true self-confidence requires the courage to embrace uncertainty and challenge assumptions. This dynamic, he continued, forms a symbiotic cycle: consistent effort reinforces confidence through tangible results, which in turn fuels the drive to pursue deeper and more impactful outcomes.

Kassahun Dejene Zeleke, a PhD student in Sociology and Social Policy, said that he had found Prof Song’s talk profoundly inspiring. He noted that Prof Song’s emphasis on self-confidence and hard work as the twin engines of impactful research offers a clear and practical message for early-career scholars - to cultivate bold ideas and persistent effort in order to make research truly matter.

The A Personal Perspective on Doing Good Research Seminar Series invites senior university management and leading scholars to discuss their research and perspectives, and initiates in-depth exchanges among doctoral students, early-career researchers, and academics on how to conduct the best research.

As the seminar series for this academic year concludes, the School of Graduate Studies extends its sincere thanks to all the speakers and participants for their support and participation.