"Experts Gather in Shanghai to Chart Future of Fluid Mechanics, Emphasizing AI Integration and Interdisciplinary Innovation"

The "2025 Fluid Mechanics Discipline Development Strategy Conference" was held in Shanghai from April 11 to 13. This conference was guided by the Mathematics and Physics Science Department of the National Natural Science Foundation of China and organized by the Fluid Mechanics Professional Committee of the Chinese Society of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics. It was jointly hosted by Shanghai University and Southern University of Science and Technology, with Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) member and Southern University of Science and Technology professor Xia Keqing serving as the conference chair. Prominent attendees included CAS member and Chinese Society of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics president He Guowei, CAS member and Xi'an University of Electronic Science and Technology professor Zheng Xiaojing, CAS member and vice president of the Chinese Society of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics and professor at the University of Science and Technology of China Lu Xiyun, CAS member and president of the Chinese Aerodynamic Society and researcher at the China Aerodynamics Research and Development Center Tang Zhigong, CAS member and vice president of the Chinese Society of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics and professor at Peking University Duan Huiling, vice president of the Chinese Society of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics and professor at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Xu Kun, former deputy director of the Mathematics and Physics Science Department of the National Natural Science Foundation of China Meng Qingguo, director of the Office of the Chinese Society of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics and deputy secretary-general Zhang Zibing, and vice chancellor of Shanghai University Zhang Jianhua. The opening ceremony was hosted by professor Xu Chunchao from Tsinghua University, who is the deputy director of the Fluid Mechanics Professional Committee. In his opening address, CAS member He Guowei extended a warm welcome to the experts and young scholars attending the conference and expressed sincere gratitude to Shanghai University and Southern University of Science and Technology for their efforts in hosting it. He commended the Fluid Mechanics Professional Committee for its significant contributions to the development of the field, including talent cultivation, advisory services, and academic exchanges. He urged the committee and the attendees to continue leading the way in these areas. Looking ahead, He emphasized the importance of building a comprehensive innovation chain from foundational research to practical applications, and seizing the high ground in interdisciplinary research. He also encouraged the creation of new models for international collaboration to help China's fluid mechanics research transition from a follower to an equal and, ultimately, a leader on the global stage. He called for collective efforts in writing major project guidelines, internationalizing awards, and nurturing talent for the scientific and technological prowess of China by 2035. Shanghai University's vice chancellor Zhang Jianhua welcomed the participants and thanked the experts for their contributions. She expressed the university’s commitment to deepening the integration of basic and applied research, accelerating major scientific breakthroughs, and fostering high-caliber innovative talent. She also invited attendees to share their insights freely to benefit the development of Shanghai University’s fluid mechanics discipline. Conference chair Xia Keqing highlighted fluid mechanics as a critical link between fundamental science and engineering applications, noting that it must harness collective wisdom and deepen collaborations to meet modern challenges. The conference theme, "Focusing on Frontier Challenges and Serving National Needs," aimed to facilitate in-depth discussions on strategic development, talent cultivation, and interdisciplinary innovation among experts and scholars. During the conference, CAS member Zheng Xiaojing presented the latest breakthroughs in wind-sand turbulence research. Professor Zhang Kek from the University of Macau discussed the exploration of the "Macau Scientific Magnetic Satellite and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics." Professor Ding Chengyuan from the Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics introduced the emerging field of "Fluid Mechanics Issues in EUV Lithography Light Sources." Professor Liu Yingzheng from Shanghai Jiao Tong University presented advances in "Data Fusion Experimental Fluid Mechanics." Professors Gao Qi from Zhejiang University, Huang Weixi from Tsinghua University, and Wang Shizhao from the University of Science and Technology of China, gave talks titled "The Impact of Specialized AI Agents on Discipline Development," "Complex Boundary Turbulence Numerical Methods and Mechanism Research," and "Large Eddy Simulation and Hydrodynamic Noise of Underwater Vehicles," respectively. These presentations were chaired by CAS members Lu Xiyun, Tang Zhigong, and Duan Huiling. In the final session, Xia Keqing chaired the summary report by Fluid Mechanics Professional Committee director Zhou Jifu and a roundtable discussion. Duan Huiling observed that in the age of the fourth industrial revolution and artificial intelligence, the mechanics discipline needs to reassess its theoretical modeling, numerical methods, and experimental techniques. She urged researchers, particularly the younger generation, to contribute to China’s scientific leadership by linking research with practical applications and solving real-world engineering problems. Lu Xiyun thanked the Fluid Mechanics Professional Committee for providing a platform that fosters academic exchanges among Chinese researchers and stressed the importance of focusing on high-quality, distinctive, and demand-oriented research. He Guowei elaborated on the essence of Qian Xuesen’s technical science philosophy, which advocates for a full innovation chain from theory to practice, and emphasized the need to prioritize original research and competitive positioning. The conference also included a thematic activity for party members at the Sino War Memorial at the Four Banks Warehouse. This visit offered a profound and emotional experience, allowing participants to reflect on the heroic deeds of Chinese people during the war and inspiring them to serve as role models in their professional roles, dedicated to the advancement of science and technology for the nation’s benefit.