The inaugural Qian Weichang International Summit (QWIS) wrapped up successfully on 30-31 March 2026. Under the theme “Interdisciplinary Advances in Science and Engineering”, this landmark academic event was held in honour of Prof. Qian Weichang, widely recognised as China’s “Father of Mechanics”, and served as a dynamic hub for global scientific exchange.
Organised by the Graduate School of PolyU and sponsored by the K.C. Wong Education Foundation, the QWIS brought together leading academics from top institutions across the globe to exchange cutting-edge research insights and jointly drive interdisciplinary innovation in science and engineering.
The QWIS featured eight world renowned plenary speakers from MIT, Imperial College London, Tsinghua University, University of Cambridge, École Polytechnique, Zhejiang University, Beijing Institute of Technology, and the Guangdong Institute of Intelligence Science and Technology. Their inspiring presentations spanned mechanics, medicine, electronics, energy, and materials science, sparking new ideas for cross disciplinary collaboration.
Another highlight of the QWIS was the presentation of the Qian Weichang Young Scientist Awards, recognising exceptional early career researchers in science and engineering. Prof. Song Bai (Peking University) and Prof. Zhao Ruike (Stanford University) were named the two laureates.
Beyond plenary sessions, the QWIS also hosted over 70 parallel sessions covering advanced manufacturing, energy science, materials, data science, smart cities, health sciences and more, fostering in-depth global academic dialogue and fueling interdisciplinary innovation.
The QWIS was a proud moment for PolyU, reaffirming the university’s unwavering commitment to global academic collaboration, advancing interdisciplinary research and nurturing the next generation of scientific talent to address global challenges.
