From November 22 to 24, the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) hosted the National Science Review (NSR) Frontiers Forum on Physics and Information Science 2024.
The forum centered on the theme of materials science and artificial intelligence (AI), featuring two sub-forums: AI in materials science and frontiers of AI technology. Around 200 distinguished experts and scholars from universities, research institutes, and industry across China attended, including Qikun XUE, President of SUSTech and Associate Editor-in-Chief of Physics & Mathematics of NSR, and Lei GUO, Associate Editor-in-Chief of Information Sciences of NSR.
The forum opened with remarks by Jinfeng JIA, Acting Vice President of SUSTech, and concluded with a speech by Lei GUO.
In his opening address, Qikun XUE highlighted how the forum’s theme aligns with the general trend of cutting-edge science and technology development and the pressing need for interdisciplinary research. He emphasized SUSTech’s role as a pioneer in higher education reform, fostering innovation and collaboration to contribute to national scientific and technological progress and social development.
Guilin WANG, Managing Editor for Chemistry of NSR, delivered a comprehensive overview of the journal’s evolution, from its founding to its long-term goals. He highlighted NSR’s commitment to academic excellence, its diverse disciplinary coverage, and rich editorial content. Mr. WANG emphasized the journal’s growing influence both domestically and internationally and reiterated its dedication to becoming a leading global, comprehensive scientific publication.
The forum featured 7 plenary reports and 32 branch reports, addressing trends and challenges in interdisciplinary fields spanning materials science and AI. Speakers explored pressing scientific problems and proposed innovative approaches to advance these fields.
Notable plenary speakers included Academician Xingao GONG and Professor Xuan ZENG from Fudan University; Professor Yiqin GAO from Peking University; Professors Zongben XU and Xiaohong GUAN from Xi’an Jiaotong University; Professor Tiejun CUI from Southeast University; and Professor Li YOU from Tsinghua University.
They presented topics such as AI-driven material reverse design, deep learning molecular models, large-model limit theory, music computing intelligence, AI-enhanced quantum precision measurement, and automated integrated circuit design optimization. The speakers shared their latest research insights and engaged in in-depth discussions with the attendees on core issues in AI and materials science.
Chairs of the plenary reports, including Academicians Shining ZHU from Nanjing University and Ru HUANG from Southeast University, and Lei GUO from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, also presented honorary certificates to the speakers.
The sub-forum on AI in materials science explored topics such as AI-assisted atomic force microscopy for water structure analysis, data-driven systems for synchrotron radiation studies, AI-supported crystal structure prediction methods, and lithium battery design, underscoring AI’s transformative potential in advancing materials research.
The second sub-forum, focused on the frontiers of AI technology, covered areas like AI theory, supercomputing and intelligent integration, brain-inspired intelligence, intelligent robotics, and the convergence of AI with fields such as biomedicine, brain-computer interfaces, and communications.
Experts noted how AI is revolutionizing precision and efficiency in physical sciences, with profound implications for both basic research and industrial applications.
During the closing ceremony, Shengli REN, Executive Editor at Science China Press, emphasized the complementary roles of high-quality journals and academic forums in promoting interdisciplinary collaboration. He expressed hope for further development of domestic journals and the continued growth of the NSR alongside advancements in Chinese science.
In conjunction with the forum, the editorial boards for the physics & mathematics and information science sections of the NSR held a meeting to deepen collaboration and understanding among editorial members.
The NSR is an academic journal that reports cutting-edge developments across science and technology in China and around the world. It is overseen by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and published by Science China Press. The journal covers all areas of the natural sciences, including physics and mathematics, chemistry, life sciences, earth sciences, materials science, and information sciences.
The forum was jointly organized by Science China Press, SUSTech, and Peng Cheng Laboratory, co-organized by the Quantum Science Center of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, and hosted by SUSTech’s Departments of Physics and Computer Science and Engineering.
