Global scientists and scholars gathered in Beijing on Sunday, for the opening of the 2025 International Congress of Basic Science (ICBS), aiming to explore the frontiers of fundamental research.

Nearly 1,000 experts, scholars, and students convened at the China National Convention Center. They will engage in deep discussions over the coming two weeks on cutting-edge progress in mathematics, physics, and information science and engineering.

Four Fields Medalists, three Nobel Laureates, and two Turing Award winners, including Shing-Tung Yau and Andrew Chi-Chih Yao, attended the congress. Six preeminent scientists -- Samuel C. C. Ting, Steven Chu, David Gross, Robert Tarjan, Shigefumi Mori, and George Lusztig -- were honored with the 2025 Basic Science Lifetime Award, the highest distinction in fundamental science, celebrating a scientist's enduring impact on the field.

Addressing the opening ceremony, ICBS President and Fields Medalist Shing-Tung Yau highlighted recent breakthroughs in mathematics, physics, and information science. He believes a new era driven by theoretical breakthroughs and technological innovations may be dawning.

Progress in basic science is not only vital for technological innovation but serves as the core engine driving the continuous evolution of human civilization, Yau noted, emphasizing that enhancing international cooperation in science and fostering mutual exchange and trust is more crucial now than ever before.

He expressed his hope that the congress will establish an open and inclusive international platform for deeper academic exchange and collaboration, jointly advancing modern science and technology.

Initiated by Shing-Tung Yau in 2023, ICBS is held annually with the theme "Advancing Science for Humanity".

This year's congress will host more than 500 academic sessions including plenary talks, basic science lectures, and satellite conferences. Leading international scientists will deliver keynote lectures on basic and frontier sciences, sharing the latest breakthroughs and promoting interdisciplinary innovation. 

Source: Xinhua