1999年12月27日,是中国矿业大学周世宁教授终身难忘的一天:被人称为“中国瓦斯大王”的他,由于在防治煤矿瓦斯突出研究方面的杰出成就,被遴选为中国工程院院士。面对喷薄欲出的新世纪的曙光,周教授觉得这份“新年礼物”是那样的珍贵和令人振奋,他的思绪不禁随着我们的采访回到了那些已经流逝的岁月…… On December 27, 1999, Professor Zhou Shining, a professor of China University of Mining and Technology, spent a lifetime unforgettable. He was called “China’s Gas King” and was selected as an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering due to his outstanding achievements in preventing and controlling coal gas outburst. In the face of the dawning of the gushing new century, Professor Zhou felt such a “New Year’s gift” was so precious and exhilarating that his thoughts could not help but return to those days that have passed with our interview.