5th China Polar Youth Forum Successfully Held in Hulunbuir
The 5th China Polar Youth Forum concluded successfully in Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Hosted by the China Polar Youth Scientists Association, the forum took place in Hailar District from June 27 to 29, 2025, gathering numerous young talents and renowned experts in China’s polar and cold-region scientific fields.
Above: Group photo of the 5th China Polar Youth Forum participants
With the aim of building an academic community and promoting interdisciplinary innovation, the forum focused on cutting-edge topics such as polar ecological protection, cold-region ecosystems, ice-snow climate simulation, and environmental engineering amid global climate change. Distinguished scholars including Zhang Beichen, Deputy Director of the Polar Research Institute of China, Qin Weijia, former Director of the Polar Exploration Office of the State Oceanic Administration, and professors from top universities like Lanzhou University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Peking University delivered insightful keynote speeches, covering frontier research areas such as polynyas observation, geoscience knowledge gaps, and deep-time paleoclimate simulation.
Five thematic seminars were set up, including “Polar Cryosphere Biogeochemical Cycles,” “Polar Physical Oceanography,” “Polar Cryosphere Simulation and Coupling with Atmosphere and Ocean,” “Atmospheric Cryosphere and Climate,” and “Cryosphere and Applications.” Over two days, young scholars from leading universities and research institutions across the country presented more than 40 high-quality academic reports on hot issues like Arctic sea-ice change mechanisms, Antarctic ice shelf melting monitoring, polar carbon cycles, and cryosphere technology applications. Additionally, a poster session showcased 49 research projects, and a 2-minute flash talk session for graduate students was organized, fully stimulating academic vitality among young scholars.
To encourage excellence in polar research, the forum awarded prizes for outstanding oral presentations, flash talks, and posters. After expert evaluation, 5 outstanding oral presentation awards, 6 excellent flash talk awards, and 7 excellent poster awards were granted. Senior researchers and forum organizers presented the awards to recognize the recipients’ achievements.
The forum not only provided a high-quality platform for young polar researchers to showcase achievements and exchange ideas but also promoted interdisciplinary integration and international cooperation by exploring links between polar science and research in “polar-like” regions such as Hulunbuir. It injected strong impetus into the sustainable development of China’s polar research and talent cultivation, highlighting the sense of responsibility and innovation of Chinese young scientists in addressing global climate challenges.
APECS-China Third Council Meeting Concludes Successfully; New Executive Committee Established
On the afternoon of June 27, 2025, the Council Meeting of the 2nd and 3rd Councils of APECS-China was held in Hailar District, Hulunbuir. Chaired by Secretary-General Tian Biao, the meeting was attended by all members of the 2nd Council and candidate members of the 3rd Council.
The 2nd Council’s work was summarized by its Chairman Li Chuanjin, who reviewed progress in youth polar research exchanges, international cooperation, and science popularization over the past two years.
In the closed session, the 3rd Council was elected. The new Executive Committee was then formed, with Zhao Xi as Chairman, Li Chunlan, Tian Biao, and Mu Longjiang as Vice-Chairmen, Zheng Lei as Secretary-General, and Xiao Enzhao as Deputy Secretary-General. Zhao Xi delivered an inaugural speech outlining future goals.
Amendments to the association’s charter were approved. Plans for the next year were discussed, and Sun Yat-sen University (Zhuhai Campus) was confirmed as the host of the 6th Polar Youth Forum.
The establishment of the new committee marks a new phase for APECS-China, aiming to boost polar youth research and international collaboration.
Above: members of the APECS-China 3rd Council
