On 2 November 2026, Prof. ZHOU Ming of the Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo, China delivered a PAIR Distinguished Seminar titled “Engineering in the AI Era – The Grand Arc of Technology through the Ages”, sharing his insights into the development of technology and engineering. The event attracted more than 60 on-site participants and about 16,000 online viewers across social media platforms.
The lecture took the audience on a journey through the evolution of engineering, from ancient achievements and classical mechanics to numerical simulation and modern computing. Prof. Zhou illustrated how advances in scientific understanding and computational power have continually driven innovation in engineering applications. He also referred to the U.S. National Academy of Engineering’s view that engineering is fundamentally driven by purpose and the pursuit of solutions for the benefit of humanity. Increasingly mature simulation technologies enable engineers to reduce their reliance on physical prototyping and use simulation to improve the efficiency of digital design and accelerate product development.
Turning to industrial applications, Prof. Zhou showcased his notable contributions to topology optimisation and simulation-driven design in the aerospace industry, including a 500 kg weight saving for the Airbus A380 and a 12% weight reduction for Boeing 787 wing ribs. These applications demonstrated how early integration of simulation and optimisation in product development enables engineers to enhance structural efficiency while reducing weight, material use and reliance on downstream design verification.
Looking ahead, Prof. Zhou outlined an emerging engineering ecosystem that integrates design, simulation, digital twins (DT) and artificial intelligence (AI). AI-enabled workflows can improve the efficiency and performance of various engineering tasks, including geometry cleanup and intelligent meshing, automated simulation reporting, and topology optimisation. By integrating engineering knowledge and experience into reusable workflows and automating complex processes, AI has the potential to further enhance engineering efficiency, allowing engineers to devote more attention to innovation in response to key national development priorities.
The seminar concluded with an engaging Q&A session moderated by Prof. MAI Yiu Wing, Distinguished Chair Professor of Composites Science and Engineering at PolyU, during which participants engaged in insightful discussions with Prof. Zhou.
Please click here for an online review.
| Topics | PAIR Distinguished Lecture Series |
|---|---|
| Research Units | PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research |
Prof. ZHOU Ming
Member of U.S. National Academy of Engineering
Chair Professor and Dean of College of Engineering
Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo, China
Ming Zhou is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering and Chair Professor and Dean of Engineering at the Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo. A pioneer of structural topology optimization, he has extensive experience leading large-scale structural and multiphysics simulation software development at Altair/Siemens. He played a pivotal role in advancing the industrialization of simulation-driven design optimization through manufacturing awareness, composite design, and fail-safe topology optimization. Since 2020, he has served as Editor-in-Chief of Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization, the official journal of ISSMO.
Personal Website: https://rb.gy/m3xoav
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