To comprehensively broaden students' international academic horizons and focus on fostering their innovative thinking and pioneering spirit, from June 30 to July 4, the School of Materials Science and Engineering organized a study mission under the Top-tier Innovative Talent Program to Singapore. The mission fully participated in the 12th International Conference on Materials for Advanced Technologies (ICMAT 2025) held during this period.
During the five-day conference, the students gained close access to cutting-edge advancements in the field of materials science. Covering multiple dimensions—from microscale physics to macroscale applications, and from fundamental theories to industrial practices—the conference showcased several key frontier development directions in the current field of materials science. While attending the presentations, the top-tier students also divided into three thematic study groups focusing on energy materials, polymer materials, and biomaterials respectively for in-depth learning and discussions. They engaged in thorough exchanges with other conference participants on research hot topics such as the critical role of simulation and computation in understanding the microstructures, dynamic behaviors, and property prediction of materials, as well as how AI is driving a new paradigm in materials research and development.
Through their learning in this global classroom, the students not only experienced the charm and challenges of scientific research, but also developed new thoughts on their future academic furtherance and career planning. Team member Li Zhenming deepened his understanding of how machine learning reshapes the logic of materials R&D, and summarized: AI frees up the human resources in scientific research, allowing us to focus on the physical essence. At the conference, Lin Haoyang met a PhD student from the team of Professor Rose Amal of the University of New South Wales. They had a lively discussion on the key significance of different technical routes of hydrogen production by water electrolysis to the large-scale application of green hydrogen, and Lin obtained valuable inspiration from this exchange.
After the conference, the students also visited the National University of Singapore (NUS). During the visit, they gained an in-depth understanding of the university's latest research progress in fields such as polymer materials and clean energy materials, and experienced the scientific research and learning atmosphere of this world-top university.
This academic practical program has not only significantly deepened the students' understanding of the cutting-edge developments and development trends in materials science, and built a bridge for international academic communication, but also helped enhance the innovative thinking and international perspective of the top-tier students.
