From June 13 to 14, the 2026 Interdisciplinary Forum on Mechanics and Energy Frontiers & Symposium on Discipline Development was held in Nanjing. The forum was organized by Nanjing University of Science and Technology (NJUST) and the International Society of Mechanical System Dynamics (ISMSD), and hosted by the School of Energy and Power Engineering of NJUST, the State Key Laboratory of Complex Multibody System Dynamics, and the Key Laboratory of Electronic Equipment Thermal Control of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. More than 50 national-level talent recipients from over 40 institutions, including deans of relevant schools from peer universities, experts from enterprises in key industries such as aerospace, aviation, shipbuilding, and electronics, as well as national-level talent recipients, discipline leaders, school administrators, and faculty representatives from NJUST, attended the forum.

On the morning of June 14, the forum officially opened. Prof. Xuan Yimin, member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Prof. Rui Xiaoting, member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and President of ISMSD, NJUST President Yang Yixin, and Vice President Li Qiang, along with other experts and leaders, attended the opening ceremony. The opening ceremony was presided over by NJUST Vice President Ding Dazhi.

In his welcome address, President Yang Yixin pointed out that global scientific and technological competition is becoming increasingly intense, and interdisciplinary integration and innovation in energy and mechanics are an inevitable trend. He noted that NJUST has accumulated deep strengths in energy, and mechanics. He expressed the hope that the forum would serve as a bridge to build a cross-sector collaborative platform, open up the integrated innovation chain of industry–academia–research–application, and help China achieve a leap from following and running alongside to leading in related fields.

In his address, Prof. Rui Xiaoting noted that mechanics is a foundational discipline supporting the development of aerospace, energy, and machinery, and continues to empower industrial technological breakthroughs. His team has taken the lead in establishing the State Key Laboratory of Complex Multi-body System Dynamics and, in collaboration with over 100 top scientists from 35 countries, has built a trinity international platform of "international society – international journal – international conference," significantly enhancing China's international discourse power and leadership in this field. He expressed the hope that this forum would stimulate intellectual exchange and consensus among participating scholars, jointly promoting the high-quality development of mechanics and energy-related disciplines and contributing to China's pursuit of high-level scientific and technological self-reliance.

Prof. Li Qiang and Prof. Rui Xue of NJUST, Prof. Deng Zichen of Northwestern Polytechnical University, Prof. Qu Yegao of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Prof. Bai Pengying of the 206 Institute of the Second Academy of CASIC (China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation) delivered invited plenary speeches. The presentations closely followed frontier directions in the disciplines, offering profound and solid insights with strong inspiration and guidance. The Q&A sessions were lively, and the atmosphere was warm and cordial.

On the afternoon of the 14th, the forum organized two parallel thematic symposia on discipline development, respectively in Mechanics and in Power Engineering and Engineering Thermophysics. The Power Engineering and Engineering Thermophysics symposium was chaired by Prof. Li Qiang, with Prof. Liu Dong (discipline secretary) delivering a thematic report on discipline construction. The Mechanics symposium was chaired by Prof. Wang Guoping, with Prof. Rong Bao (discipline secretary) delivering a thematic report on discipline construction. Participating experts engaged in in-depth discussions on core issues of discipline development, offered precise assessments of future directions based on their experience, and jointly proposed solutions to developmental challenges. A series of constructive suggestions and recommendations were put forward, providing important guidance for the connotative upgrading and high-quality development of the relevant disciplines at the university.

This forum built a comprehensive, multi-level platform for exchange and cooperation among all participants, effectively promoting the collision and integration of frontier academic ideas, further clarifying the direction of discipline development, and also helping young scholars broaden their horizons and providing a platform for their growth and development. The forum received wide recognition and positive feedback from the guests. On the afternoon of the 14th, the forum concluded successfully.