July 4-7, 2014 | Sichuan, China                                                                             

The "Chinese Materials Conference 2014" was successfully held at Sichuan University from July 4-7, 2014. The conference featured 19 symposiums and a forum on materials education. A total of 1,817 paper abstracts were submitted, and 1,773 participants registered for the conference.

On the morning of July 5, from 9:00 to 12:00, the opening ceremony and academic symposium were held at the gymnasium of Sichuan University's Wangjiang Campus. The opening ceremony and symposium were attended by several distinguished guests, including Academician Huang Boyun, President of the Chinese Materials Research Society; Mr. Yang Quanming, President of Sichuan University; Vice Presidents of the Society Han Gaorong, Han Yafang, Li Guangxian, Li Yuanyuan, Wei Bingbo, Xie Jianxin, and Xu Jian. The opening ceremony was presided over by Vice President Xu Jian. President Huang Boyun and Party Secretary Yang Quanming delivered the opening speeches.

Following the opening ceremony, Academician Li Yuanyuan, President of Jilin University and Vice President of the Society, along with Vice President Xu Jian, jointly presided over the symposium. Four renowned materials scientists delivered keynote reports: Academician Nan Cewen, Director of the Institute of Materials at Tsinghua University, presented on "Multiferroic Materials - Harmonious Coexistence of Ferroelectricity and Ferromagnetism"; Professor Sun Jun, Dean of the School of Materials at Xi'an Jiaotong University, discussed "Microstructure Design and Performance Optimization of Nano-structured Molybdenum Alloys"; Professor Yunfeng Lu from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Professor Wang Yuzhong from Sichuan University gave talks titled "Life is Good - A Journey from Energy Storage to Protein Therapeutics" and "Flame Retardant Polymer Materials," respectively. Nearly 3,000 participants, including attendees and faculty and students related to materials at Sichuan University, attended the opening ceremony and symposium. Each keynote presentation was followed by lively discussions.

The symposiums took place from the afternoon of July 5 to July 7 at the Graduate School Building of Sichuan University's Wangjiang Campus. A total of 1,070 papers were presented orally in 21 symposium sessions. Attendance and discussions were highly enthusiastic, with more than 95% participation, demonstrating strong support and recognition for the Chinese Materials Conference. Additionally, over 600 papers were displayed as posters, most of which were of high quality and well-prepared. From these, 39 outstanding posters were selected based on recommendations from symposium chairs and evaluations by the awards committee.

The conference also featured a "Materials and Art" photo exhibition. The secretariat received 72 photo submissions, with 68 actually exhibited. After voting by attendees and final selection by the awards committee, two first prizes, five second prizes, and eight excellence awards were presented. The exhibition was well-supported by various units and authors, reflecting the subtle relationship between materials and art, as well as the artistic inspiration and cultural depth inherent in the thoughts of materials scientists.

During the annual meeting, additional activities such as a science exhibition, science popularization activities, and campus tours at Sichuan University were held as important services to members, receiving recognition and support from participants. Strengthening member cohesion and promoting direct communication between the Society and its members remain key aspects of the Society's member services. More member activities will be organized during future conferences to enhance these connections.

An exhibition on "New Materials, New Processes, Material Testing Technologies, and Instruments" was also held concurrently, with nearly 60 exhibitors, providing a great opportunity for attendees to interact with relevant enterprises.

The closing ceremony and awards presentation took place at 11:30 a.m. on July 7 in the lobby of the Graduate School Building at Sichuan University. The ceremony was hosted by Professor Li Shusuo, Secretary-General of the conference. Attendees included Professor Li Guangxian, Vice President of the Society and Vice President of Sichuan University; Professor Han Yafang, Vice President and Secretary-General of the Society; and Professor Yin Guangfu, Dean of the School of Materials at Sichuan University. Certificates and prizes were awarded to authors of outstanding posters and photos.

The 2014 annual meeting was highly successful, with the highest registration numbers in its history. Since transitioning to an annual event in 2008, attendance has increased yearly. In 2012, the event was officially renamed the "Chinese Materials Conference," and its influence continues to grow, establishing it as a flagship event of the Chinese Materials Research Society. The strong support from Sichuan University, which invested heavily in renovating venues and provided hundreds of volunteers, ensured the smooth running of the conference. The Board of Directors of the Chinese Materials Research Society and all participants extend their heartfelt thanks to the leadership, faculty, students, and volunteers of Sichuan University.

The "Chinese Materials Conference 2015" will be held in Guiyang, the Forest City, in July 2015. We look forward to reuniting with materials science professionals from across the country next year in Guiyang.