From June 15 to 18, 2024, hosted by the School of Emergent Soft Matter, the Fifth International Symposium on Soft Matter Science and Engineering (SMSE2024) was grandly held at the Guangzhou International Campus of South China University of Technology. The theme of this symposium was Soft Matter Theory and Its Applications, aiming to explore the future directions of soft matter theoretical research and its impact on various technological fields, with a particular focus on the application of soft matter theory in computational simulation, material preparation, and industrial development. Vice President of South China University of Technology, Weiqing Li, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a welcome speech. The honorary chairman of the symposium, Stephen Cheng, a member of the National Academy of Engineering, USA, gave the opening address.
Vice President Weiqing Li first extended a warm welcome on behalf of the university to the experts in the field of soft matter who had traveled from afar. She briefly introduced the long history and advanced educational philosophy of South China University of Technology. She stated that the School of Emergent Soft Matter embodies the university's adherence to the philosophy of innovation as the primary driving force and talent as the primary resource, implementing the new era's talent strengthening strategy. The School of Emergent serves as a major talent center and innovation hub. It has lived up to expectations, having achieved internationally recognized academic accomplishments in the field of soft matter and received numerous national and provincial honors. The International Symposium on Soft Matter Science and Engineering (SMSE) was initiated by Academician Stephen Cheng in 2017 and has been successfully held five times, gaining significant acclaim. This year's symposium, themed Soft Matter Theory and Its Applications, surpasses previous topics with extensive and in-depth discussions. It is believed that this will bring new insights and references to the participating teachers and students. Lastly, she expressed her hope that all the guests would come with high spirits and leave with satisfaction, collectively contributing their wisdom and strength to the development of the soft matter field.
Academician Stephen Cheng stated that this year's conference theme is focused on Soft Matter Theory and Its Applications. The most significant change compared to previous years is the concentration of the conference theme on a specific field. This approach allows for more in-depth academic exchanges with higher relevance. The future development of science requires the continuous efforts of successive generations of young people. You are the hope for the future and will make contributions to the betterment of human society, Academician Cheng said, inspiring the young scholars in attendance.
This three-day academic symposium brought together 17 soft matter experts from both domestic and international institutions. They presented reports on numerous cutting-edge advancements, including polyelectrolyte theory, block copolymer self-assembly, rheology and dynamics, materials performance theory and prediction, and the development of theoretical computational tools. Additionally, many participating teachers and students engaged in in-depth and extensive exchanges through report questions and discussions during coffee breaks. These interactions not only deepened the understanding within the same field but also enhanced interaction and idea exchange across different fields. The successful organization of this symposium has also strengthened the confidence to continue holding specialized symposiums in the future.
The symposium included a poster presentation session, receiving a total of 37 poster submissions from domestic and international students. Based on the presentation scores, the organizing committee selected 8 outstanding posters, awarding them honorary certificates to provide more encouragement to the young scholars.
Relevant officials from the university's administrative departments were invited to attend the opening ceremony, with nearly 200 teachers and students participating in the event.