Successful convening of 2nd Europe-China Eco-Environmental Forum for Young Scholars

       The "2nd Europe-China Eco-Environmental Forum for Young Scholars - Special Topic on Water Environment" international symposium was successfully held on December 9th, 2023. The event utilized a combination of in-person sessions at the Research Center for Eco-environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences (offline) and live-streaming (online) to facilitate global participation. Co-hosted by the Center for Water and Ecology at Tsinghua University, the State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry at the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences (RCEES, CAS), and the European-Chinese Association for Eco-Environment (ECAEE), the forum aimed to foster cross-collaboration and promote sustainable development in the field of water environment.

         A total of 23 exceptional young scientists from 14 prestigious institutions across 8 countries enthusiastically participated in the forum. This diverse group included European Union Marie Curie fellows as well as German Humboldt fellows. Some of the notable institutions represented by these scholars were Cambridge University, Eawag in Switzerland, Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, and the Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research in Germany, among others.The forum closely aligned with the pressing water environment challenges of today, covering five key subjects: (1) Microbial technology-based water treatment; (2) Water environment and water ecology; (3) Recycling and intellectualization on water treatment; (4) Watershed water environment; (5) Water treatment challenges and solution strategies. We had the honor of hosting distinguished scientists for keynote speeches at the forum. Prof. Zhimin Qiang from the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences (RCEES, CAS), and Prof. Huijuan Liu from the School of Environment at Tsinghua University both delivered insightful presentations. Their speeches primarily centered around the strategic development plans and talent acquisition policies implemented by their respective research institutions in the context of the new era.All the presentations delivered during the forum were truly captivating, fostering an atmosphere of lively and engaging discussions. The online live streaming platform garnered an impressive viewership, with over 10,000 individuals tuning in to watch the proceedings remotely. Moreover, the physical venue itself attracted young scholars from various institutions, including notable participation from the Harbin Institute of Technology, further enriching the collaborative exchange of ideas.

        We extend our sincere gratitude to the various journals that provided invaluable support in ensuring the success of the forum. We are grateful to China Water Supply and Drainage, Environmental Science and Technology (Chinese), Journal of Environmental Sciences, Environmental Science and Ecotechnology, iMeta, Water Science & Technology, and Chinese Chemical Letters for their collaboration and endorsement. We would also like to express our special appreciation to Optiflow  (Shenzhen) Technology Co., Ltd. for their generous sponsorship, which greatly contributed to the smooth execution of the event. Their support was instrumental in enabling young scholars to come together and exchange their knowledge and insights on water environment research.