On September 29, the 67th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and award ceremony of "Bell Award"for the outstanding foreign experts was held by Hubei Provincial People's Government. 12 foreign experts were awarded "Bell Award" for outstanding foreign experts in Hubei Province in 2016 to commend their outstanding contribution for Hubei economic construction and social development. Enrique Lavernia, expert of "1000 Foreign Talents Program" and strategic scientist of WUT, and dean of the International Demonstration School of Materials Science and Engineering, was awarded with the glory. Wang Xiaodong, Vice secretary of Hubei provincial party committee and acting governor of Hubei Provinceawarded the "Bell Award" for outstanding foreign experts to Prof. Lavernia. Vice President Zeng Chunnian, and the winner of “Bell Award" in 2013Prof. William Price of WUT were invited to the ceremony.

Professor Lavernia, as the foreign expert of "1000 talents plan" for the import of high-level foreign experts of the Organization Department of the Central Committee of the CPC, overseas academic master of Discipline Innovation of the preparation technology and engineering applications the function Filmadvanced materials of Key Talents import Project "111 Program" by the Ministry of Education and Bureau of Foreign Experts Affairs,has had a long-term cooperation with WUT and has achieved fruitful results in scientific research, exchange visits, and personnel training. Lavernia was appointed as our strategic scientist in 2013. In 2014, he was elected as the National Thousand Talents Program (for overseas experts). Since 2015, he has been hired as the Dean of the International Demonstration School of Materials Science and Engineering. He has been honored as the Outstanding Foreign Expert of the Year in Hubei Province in 2016 for his outstanding achievement in cooperating with our university.

"Bell Award" is an award established by the People's Government of Hubei Province in accordance with the relevant provisions of “incentives for foreign experts" by State Bureau of Foreign Experts to reward foreign expertswho have shown selfless dedication, and have a good reputation and greater social impact and have made outstanding contributions to economicconstruction and social development in various fields in Hubei Province. It is thehighest award for foreign expertsfrom People's Government of Hubei Province.