March 26 marked the opening of the 4th Nuclear Energy Doctoral Symposium at Harbin Engineering University (HEU). The event welcomed distinguished attendees, including YU Junchong, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; MENG Yanbin, Assistant General Manager of China National Nuclear Corporation; YAN Jun, Deputy Director of the National Defense Science and Technology Industry Bureau's Nuclear Technology Support Center; and HEU Vice President HAN Duanfeng.
Centered around the theme “Digital Transformation and Next-Generation Productivity: Driving Quality Innovation in Nuclear Energy,” the symposium provided a premier platform for doctoral candidates and emerging scholars to explore advancements in nuclear energy, examine development trends, and discuss the integration of digital intelligence with nuclear science and industrial applications.
Vice President HAN Duanfeng emphasized HEU's commitment to using this forum to strengthen nuclear science research capabilities, enhance strategic technology reserves, foster international academic collaboration, and harness technological advancements to support the quality development of the nuclear industry.
MENG Yanbin underscored the critical importance of digital transformation in nuclear energy, noting how advancements in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies are reshaping the entire industrial value chain, while also presenting new opportunities and challenges for professional development in the sector.
CHEN Yang of the Chinese Nuclear Society highlighted the vital role of doctoral researchers as future industry leaders, urging participants to apply their expertise and innovative vision to advance nuclear technology. He expressed hope that young scholars at the conference would bring fresh energy to the nuclear energy field and foster continued development through innovative thinking, solid professional knowledge, and a spirit of exploration.
ZHUANG Huolin, representing the Society’s Digitalization and AI Division, explored the synergies between global energy transitions and digital innovation in the evolution of nuclear technology.
SUN Shangmin, Vice President of Tsinghua Tongfang Co., Ltd., emphasized that the symposium’s theme directly addresses the practical needs for technological breakthroughs, safety improvements, and efficiency advancements within the nuclear energy field. He encouraged young scholars to engage deeply in discussions and contribute innovative ideas to the interdisciplinary integration of digital intelligence and nuclear energy science.
The proceedings, chaired by QIAN Tianlin, featured expert presentations on cutting-edge research and emerging industry trends, followed by specialized sub-forums that facilitated intensive discussions between established researchers and emerging scholars.
Throughout the conference, experts, scholars, and industry leaders in the nuclear energy field delivered insightful reports on academic frontiers, key research areas, and critical development directions. In the sub-forum sessions, experts and scholars from related fields engaged in in-depth exchanges with young students, sharing the latest research findings.
